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Educate Fairfax awarded a record $91,500 in scholarships to Fairfax County Public Schools seniors during its second annual Beyond the Tassel celebration.
The foundation distributed 47 scholarships among students from 18 FCPS high schools, bringing together recipients, families, educators, donors and community leaders to recognize their academic work, leadership and service.
The total marked an increase of more than 50% from the $60,000 awarded in 2025.
FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid thanked the individuals, businesses, nonprofits and organizations that helped fund the scholarships. She said their philanthropy reflected the community’s belief in the promise and potential of every student.
Reid also congratulated the recipients as they prepared for life after graduation, saying she was confident they would continue making a positive difference.
Educate Fairfax Executive Director Lynette Henry called the $91,500 award total the foundation’s largest scholarship investment to date. She credited donors, families, foundations, educators and community partners with expanding access to opportunity for students.
Reflecting on her own experience overcoming adversity, Henry reminded the seniors that success does not always follow a straight path. She encouraged them to draw on their resilience during periods of challenge and uncertainty and remember that their community was supporting them.
Among the recipients was Lake Braddock Secondary School senior Gretchen Parrott, who plans to attend the College of William & Mary in the fall. She intends to study biology on a pre-med track and hopes to become an oncology physical therapist.
Parrott said the combination of encouragement and financial assistance from the FCPS community had been invaluable.
Mount Vernon High School senior Joshua Osei-Nimoh delivered the ceremony’s closing remarks on behalf of the scholarship recipients. He will attend Old Dominion University this fall to study cybersecurity.
Osei-Nimoh said community youth programs and scholarship opportunities helped shape his plans. He had been uncertain about how he would pay for college, but receiving scholarships motivated him to work harder and showed him a path forward.
Beyond the Tassel was established to recognize scholarship recipients as well as the families, educators, staff members, mentors, donors, foundations and community groups that help students pursue higher education and career goals.
Scholarship partners included the Fairfax Alliance of Black School Educators, the Irene Rosenbaum Memorial Scholarship, ITServe Alliance, the John R. Lewis Leadership Program, the Juliana Kai Russell Memorial Scholarship, the Love Like Adam Foundation, REACH IN US Foundation and the Think Big Expect More Scholarship sponsored by Think Big For Kids. Educate Fairfax also awarded its Imagine! Believe! Achieve! Scholarship.
The foundation recognized annual sponsors and partners that support FCPS students throughout the year, including Apple Federal Credit Union, Cox Business, I-66 Express Mobility Partners, RICOH USA, Moseley Architects, United Bank, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and Kaiser Permanente.