Schools / Fairfax / January 29, 2026

Four Fairfax Students Rise Above 13,000 YoungArts Applicants

Four Fairfax County Public Schools students earned recognition in the 2026 National YoungArts Foundation Competition, with two receiving awards with distinction.

By Tysons Times Staff

Editorial illustration of Northern Virginia community life with transit, schools and local businesses — A Tysons Times illustration represents community life across Tysons and Northern Virginia. Photo: Tysons Times / AI illustration

Coverage area: Fairfax
Section: Schools
Published: January 29, 2026
Topics: schools, fairfax, development

Article Text

Four Fairfax County Public Schools students earned recognition in the 2026 National YoungArts Foundation Competition, with two receiving awards with distinction.

The FCPS students were selected from more than 13,000 applicants across 10 disciplines: classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice and writing.

Panels of artists specializing in each discipline evaluated the applications. More than 700 students were named YoungArts award winners nationwide.

The four FCPS honorees are:

Wonwoo Do of McLean High School, photography, winner with distinction.
Heidi Hager of Oakton High School, voice and music creation.
Kobimtochi Odo of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, writing and poetry.
Dev Rai of Oakton High School, writing and nonfiction, winner with distinction.

YoungArts winners are recognized for their technical ability, artistry and dedication to developing their craft. They also join a community that offers creative and professional development support throughout their careers.

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