The Foreign Service Journal, September 2021

AFSA NEWS 64 SEPTEMBER 2021 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL Sophia Adams-Smith Emily Rose Allen Samantha Isabelle Brungardt Alvarez Rachel Burkhalter Alanna Enkhjin DaRin Asha Dees Abigail Dillard Alexander Y. Edwards AFSA SCHOLARSHIPS Meet the 2021 AFSA Merit Award Winners Academic Merit Scholarship Winners Sophia Adams-Smith – daughter of Steve (State) and Kelly (State) Adams-Smith, graduated fromWashington Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia. Plans to attend Wil- liam & Mary St. Andrews Joint Degree Programme to study international relations. Sophia is also the winner of a Commu- nity Service Honorable Mention Scholarship. Emily Rose Allen – daughter of Tyler (State) and Jennifer Allen, graduated from the Frankfurt International School, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Plans to attend James Madison University to study social work. Emily is also the winner of a Community Service Honorable Mention Scholarship. Samantha Isabelle Brun- gardt Alvarez – daughter of Maurice (State) and Maria Brungardt, graduated from James W. Robinson Jr. Second- ary School, Fairfax, Virginia. Plans to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison to study neurobiology. Rachel Burkhalter – daugh- ter of Edward (State) and Susan Burkhalter, graduated from West Springfield High School, Springfield, Virginia. Plans to attend Indiana University to study oboe performance. Alanna Enkhjin DaRin – daughter of Brian (State) and Tuya (State) DaRin, graduated fromWashington Liberty High School, Arlington, Virginia. Plans to attend Rensselaer Polytech- nic Institute to study civil and environmental engineering. Asha Dees – daughter of Learned Dees (State) and Amina Rage, graduated from Bethesda–Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda, Maryland. Plans to attend Dartmouth College to study biomedical engineering. Asha is also the winner of a Community Service Honorable Mention Scholarship. Abigail Dillard – daughter of Marc (State) and Julia (State) Dillard, graduated from the American International School of Budapest, Hungary. Plans to attend Virginia Tech to study mechanical engineering. Alexander Y. Edwards – son of Jing (State) and Michael Edwards, graduated from the International School of Geneva, Switzerland. Plans to attend the University of St. Andrews to study medicine. Emily W. Heimer – daughter of Jonathan Heimer (State) and Hong Wu, graduated from The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticut. Plans to attend Columbia University to study drama and theater arts. Founded in 1926, the AFSA Scholarship Program awarded $380,000 this year. In need-based Financial Aid Scholarships, $241,000 was divided among 68 students; and in Merit Awards, 38 students were honored withh a total of $139,000. AFSA is proud to present the 2021 AFSAMerit Award winners, listed here alphabetically by last name. Winners received $3,500 each, Honorable Mentions received $2,000 and Best Essay $3,500. AFSA thanks all of the judges and donors who made this year’s Merit Awards possible.