Founded in 1926, the AFSA scholarship program awarded a record $349,000 this year. In need-based Financial Aid Scholarships, $220,000 was divided among 59 students. In Merit Awards, 41 awards totaled $129,000.

Below are the 2018 AFSA Merit Award winners. Recipients will be honored at the annual Youth Awards Ceremony on July 13, 2018 in the Marshall Center at Main State. Winners received $3,500, Honorable Mentions $2,000, and the Best Essay $1,000. AFSA thanks all of the judges and donors who made this year’s Merit Awards possible.

Click here to view the Academic Merit Award winners.

For more information on the AFSA Scholarship Program, visit www.afsa.org/scholar.

Talia Enav

Art Merit Award Winner

Talia Enav – daughter of Cari (State) and Doron Evav, graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Virginia. Plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study engineering.

Mary Byrnes

Art Merit Honorable Mention

Mary Byrnes – daughter of Heather (FCS) and Michael Byrnes, graduated from the International School of Herzen University, St. Petersburg, Russia. Plans to attend the Rhode Island School of Design to study illustration.

Guenevere Rose Dunstan

Art Merit Honorable Mention

Guenevere Rose Dunstan – daughter of Edmund (State) and Augusta Dunstan, graduated from Episcopal High School, in Alexandria, Virginia. Plans to attend Boston University to study communications.

Hannah Renee Feeken

Art Merit Honorable Mention

Hannah Renee Feeken – daughter of Scott (State) and Jennifer Feeken, graduated from Colonial Forge High School, Stafford, Virginia. Plans to attend Christopher Newport University to study English and drama education.

Abigail Macy

Art Merit Honorable Mention

Abigail Macy – daughter of John (USAID) and Amy Macy, graduated from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio. Plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University to study violin performance.

Megan Murphy

Community Service Award Winner

Megan Murphy – daughter of W. Patrick Murphy (State) and Kathleen Norman, graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Virginia. Plans to attend Brown University to study international relations.

Christian Reed Beckmeyer

Community Service Honorable Mention

Christian Reed Beckmeyer – son of Charles (State) and Angela Beckmeyer, graduated from South Lakes High School, Reston, Virginia. Plans to attend Christopher Newport University to study business.

Daniela Carney

Community Service Honorable Mention

Daniela Carney – daughter of Brian Carney (USAID) and Maria Farinha, graduated from Walworth Barbour American International School, Even Yehuda, Israel. Plans to attend Brown University.

Bethany Harker

Community Service Honorable Mention

Bethany Harker – daughter of Bradley (FCS) and Megumi Harker, graduated from the Western Academy of Beijing, Beijing, China. Plans to attend George Washington University to study nutrition and public health.

Asa Nugent

Community Service Honorable Mention

Asa Nugent – son of Eileen Kane (State) and Richard Nugent, graduated from Parkmont School, Washington, D.C. Plans to attend Northern Virginia Community College to study engineering.

Kristian Noll

Best Essay Award Winner

Kristian Noll – son of George (State) and Kim Marie Noll, graduated from Korea International School, Seoul, Korea. Plans to attend St. Olaf College to study political science.