Omika Suryawanshi, a senior at Ridgefield High School has been selected as one of 36 high school seniors worldwide to join the Jefferson Scholars Class of 2022.
Awarded on the basis of merit, the Jefferson Scholarship aims to attract well-rounded students who exemplify three qualities that define the life and legacy of the university’s founder Thomas Jefferson: leadership, scholarship and citizenship. Those selected to receive the scholarship are awarded a stipend intended to cover the entire cost of attendance for four years at the University of Virginia, plus coverage of supplemental enrichment experiences.
To receive this highly competitive scholarship, candidates must undergo a rigorous, multi-stage selection process. First, they must be nominated by their high schools. UVA alumni and friends of the foundation then evaluate and interview the nominees, ultimately selecting which ones will be invited to attend the Jefferson Scholars Selection Weekend, a four-day competition in Charlottesville where the top 5% of 2000+ applicants participate in seminar discussions, an essay and mathematics examination, and a final round of interviews.