High school students regularly receive distinctions for their athletic achievements or for earning leadership positions in clubs and extracurricular activities. On behalf of her academic success before heading off to college, senior Abby Bymambatseren has been awarded the Loudoun Laurels Scholarship to anchor her enriching academic experience in post-secondary education and far beyond.
The Loudoun Laurels Scholarship was established in 2013 with a mission to honor creative, selfless, and dedicated students exiting high school by incrementally bestowing a tuition grant of $40,000 to help first-generation college students with the cost of tuition. Loudoun Laurels has awarded $1 million over 31 scholarships in its 13 years of existence. Recipients of the award, called Laureates, are announced on May 1 of each year and are continually honored at a yearly fall gala.
Receiving this tuition scholarship is more than just a recognition for stellar grades; it is an award that is given for a strong essay submission reflecting on character, appropriate financial need, and impressive interviews, all of which Byambatseren demonstrated.
“For the application part, I had to write a few short essays and one long one about community impact,” Byambatseren said. “Then I was called in for an interview. During the interview, I tried to be as talkative and energetic as possible. The interview was more like a detailed conversation between me and my interviewers. I was worried that I didn’t get the scholarship because it was too casual.”
Planning to go to James Madison University in the fall followed by the dream of attending medical school, Byambatseren spoke to the scholarship’s commitment to supporting students who demonstrate community involvement, resilience, and leadership potential.
“The Loudoun Laurels scholarship most likely recognizes my unique familial situation, grades, and volunteering experience,” Byambatseren said.
Nominees like Byambatseren possess a can-do attitude, leader-like qualities, career goals, and efficient efforts towards service and education. The scholarship places an immense importance on uplifting future leaders and volunteers by using this financial support as an anchor.
“I found the scholarship opportunity through the CAMPUS program I’m in,” Byambatseren said. “Essentially, half of the class time is a study hall and the other half is spent on research colleges, and Mrs. [Carla] Davis presents different field trips or scholarship opportunities.”
Not all students are given the same opportunities when it comes to attending college, and CAMPUS Programs are dedicated to bridging this gap. CAMPUS, a scheduled course, demonstrates a care for students that are the first in their families to attend college. For students like Byambatseren, college-readiness can be bolstered through the experiential explorations and additional scholarship opportunities that the class offers.
“The scholarship took away the burden of student debts,” Byambatseren said. “Especially because I plan to go to medical school after college. My parents were not able to afford all four years of my college, but with the scholarship, I can afford it.”
