FCEF Scholarship Awards

Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of FCEF Scholarships and Awards! These outstanding Meridian students have been recognized not only for their academic achievements, but also for their creativity, resilience, and leadership. From honoring first-generation college students to celebrating excellence in the arts, music, and civic engagement, each award reflects the diverse paths and bright futures of this year’s honorees. We are incredibly proud of these scholars and enjoyed celebrating with them at the MHS Scholarship and Awards Assembly on May 19.

2025 Recipients:

• ​The Torey Fay Scholarship * Mya Taheri
• Felgar-Da Silva Immigrant Community Citizen Award * Alissa Zagorski
• The Hoover Prize * Preston Lieu
• The Lian-Manwaring First Generation Scholarship * Henry Nguyen​
• Maria Elena Nudell Award * Kaito Mylroie
• Robert and Nancy Perry Scholarship * Non-disclosed
• Jessica Blair Szymanski Memorial Scholarship * Lucy Hladky, Jarrett Jardine, Molly Mostow, Noah Peng and Jordan Sussman
• Jessie Thackrey Memorial Scholarship * Mia Schatz
• Cay Wiant Creative Award * Catherine Buchholz
• J. Roger and Patricia A. Wollenberg Memorial Scholarship * Emily Borum
• Women's Club of Falls Church Scholarship * Katherine Steyn and Sophie Weisert
• Tyrone Q. Byrd Mind, Body, and Character Scholarship * Katherine Hamilton and Abigail Linforth
• Patricia Doyle Memorial Scholarship * Andre Morin
• Anna Hennessey Scholarship for Service Learning * Molly Mostow
• Bob Morrison Photography and Visual Arts Award * Anya Thomas
• The Grace Rissetto Scholarship * Ian Pallares Menacho
• Robert W. Snee Scholarship * Yaritza Guevara Garay
• Nancy and Beth Sprague Spirit of Meridian Award * Ally Campbell and Molly Moore
• Matthew Valley Visual Arts Scholarship * Aurora Van Rooy
• Senior Scholarship for Choral Excellence * Eudora Neal
• Charles and Elizabeth Downs Scholarship * Nicole Estrada Coaquera
• EESTEAM Scholarship * Catherine Buchholz, Sofia Krusynski and Sabrina Sakata
• Dr. Peter Noonan IB for All Prize * Adam Belouad
  
  

​To contribute to a specific scholarship, click here and select "scholarship fund" in the dropdown menu. Please indicate the scholarship name by selecting to Honor someone with this donation. 

Photos of 2025 Winners

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Rachel Brantley, winner of the Jessica Blair Szymanski Memorial Scholarship in 2024, reflects on FCEF’s impact on her education at the University of Pittsburgh.

FCEF SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

Scholarships are funded by FCEF; to apply for scholarships, please contact Meridian High School Career and College counseling and/or use the student online system, Naviance.  Scholarship applications are usually due in April and awarded in May/June.  FCEF does not determine the winners of scholarships it funds; decisions are made by donors and/or Meridian High School staff.  Our current scholarships are:

• Dr. Peter Noonan "IB For All" Prize - $2,000 - awarded annually to a graduating senior who demonstrates, through an essay or creative expression, the profound impact the IB program has had on their personal and educational journey.
• ​EESTEAM Scholarship - $1,000 awarded to one junior who demonstrates creativity, leadership, or entrepreneurial achievements in advancing an organizational, public, academic, community service, or personal cause
• ​Charles and Elizabeth Downs Scholarship -  $5,000 awarded to one senior who will attend any community college in Virginia
• Patricia Doyle Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 - provided to a special education student selected by Special Ed department
• Torey Fay Scholarship - $1,000 - awarded to a student pursuing a math career and who demonstrates resilience and character
• Felgar-Da Silva Immigrant Community Citizen Award - $2,500 - awarded to one senior who is the child of immigrant parents or an immigrant themselves, and who exemplifies the character traits of resilience, hard work, adaptation, and community involvement
• Anna Hennessey Scholarship for Service Learning - $1,000 - awarded to a senior who exemplifies the character traits of a student dedicated to service learning
• Lian-Manwaring First Generation Scholarship - $1,500 awarded to one senior who will be a first-generation attendee of a post-secondary accredited school, and who exemplifies the character traits of resilience, hard work, adaptation, and community involvement
• Mind, Body, Character - Tyrone Q. Byrd Scholarship - $1,000 - awarded to two students who best embody the attributes of beloved former principal, Ty Byrd.  The initial funds donated by the Class of 2016.  
• Bob Morrison Photography & Visual Arts Award - $1,000 - provided to a student who excels in visual arts
• Maria Elena Nudell Award - $1,000 - awarded to one senior whose interests extended beyond academics to include family, athletics, community involvement and school spirit
• Warren & Mary Pace Future Educators Scholarship - $1,000 - for a student intending to pursue educational licensing in college
• Robert & Nancy Perry Scholarship - $1,000 - provided to a student attending community college
• Grace Rissetto Scholarship - $1,000 - presented to an ESOL student selected by ESOL department
• Senior Scholarship for Choral Excellence from the Choral Boosters - $1,000
• Robert W. Snee Scholarship - $1,000 - given to someone who makes a difference at MHS
• Beth & Nancy Sprague Spirit of Meridian Award - $1,000 - awarded to two seniors who exemplify the spirit of Meridian High School
• Jessica Blair Szymanski Memorial Scholarship - $1,500 (renewable for 4 years) - based on personal statements, selected by Szymanski family
• The Franklin & Kent Thackrey Memorial Scholarship - $500 awarded to a student interested in the study of communications/journalism.
• Jessie Thackrey Memorial Scholarship - $1,000 - awarded to a junior or senior interested in pursing a non-traditional career
• Matthew Valley Visual Arts Scholarship - $2,000 - awarded to a student with a significant commitment to the Visual Arts
• Cay Wiant Scholarship - $1,000 - provided to a student who excels in creative writing and performing arts
• J. Roger & Patricia A. Wollenberg Scholarship - need based full-ride scholarship to a Virginia public school (4 year)
• Women's Club of Falls Church Scholarship - $2,000 - awarded to two students who have contributed to community service​

For a list of previous scholarship winners, please click here. ​

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