The hallowed halls of high schools are quickly becoming outdated! Today’s high school students have more opportunities to take
advantage of national and international experiences than ever before. The world is their school and they are eager to expand their horizons and educational opportunities. These students are not waiting to step into their next adventure, they already have!
Chapters recommended P.E.O. STAR Scholarship applicants from all backgrounds and varying life experiences. All recipients have experienced exceptional achievements and have demonstrated remarkable leadership capabilities.
Their experiences and accomplishments were limitless! Accolades have already come to many of these young women by attending: Congressional Student Leadership Conference at Georgetown University, the National Young Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., and the Virginia Governor’s School NASA Mentorship Program. Others attended the Global Young Leaders Conference in New York City and Global Youth Assembly in Edmonton, Canada. One recipient was among ten Girl Guides selected from across Canada to attend “Power of Youth,” an international conference held in London, England.
Two students decided to graduate early to pursue career-oriented educational opportunities while other students were pursuing dual enrollment options and one was to receive her associate degree before her high school graduation! Another recipient worked for a United State Senator in Washington, D.C. New York City was the destination for several others, one to participate in Rotary International’s UN Day and another to play with a wind ensemble at Carnegie Hall.
Students were selected to serve in their communities in different capacities—one as a member of the superintendent’s student advisory board, another as a school representative on a local bank’s advisory board and others on community youth advisory boards.
These young women are giving back to their schools and communities, with several having received The President’s Volunteer Service Award. Many were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists, another received the National Hispanic Recognition Scholar Award. They were participants in their respective Girl’s States, O’Brien Youth Leadership seminars, student councils, class offices, school and community musicals and church activities.
Many applicants have already tested their entrepreneurial skills. Alexandra Victoria Bocharnikov (Chapter AL, Reston, Virginia) founded “Soccer Buddies” which collects and distributes gently used soccer equipment to underprivileged children overseas. Angela Maryam Abolhessani (Chapter BM, Scottsdale, Arizona) formed a charity program raising $20,000 to build bathrooms at an orphanage in India. Charlotte Serenity Bliss (Chapter DU, Venice, Florida) organized backpacksforhope.com to send clothing, shoes and school supplies to a Honduras orphanage. Virginia Margaret Goss (Chapter D, Atlanta, Georgia), asked local public schools for donations of useful school supplies the last week of school and sent them to children in war torn areas where U.S. soldiers are stationed. Rose Maria Oliva (Chapter AM, Easton, Massachusetts) has established her own clothing label and has a complete fall/ winter fashion collection. Neeharika Krothapalli (Chapter Z, Farmington, Connecticut) designed a method of extracting oil from Jatropha seeds that meets international biodiesel standards.
In the words of Yi Wu (Chapter CK, Little Rock, Arkansas), echoing the thoughts of numerous STAR recipients, “I have kept my promise ‘to shoot for the moon’ by setting ambitious career goals. I am not working aimlessly, but rather with a clear direction and focus. Nothing will cause me to deviate from this path.”
