Foundation Awards More Than $50,000 in Scholarships to 44 Recipients

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA — Recipients of Fairfax Library Foundation’s 2025-2026 scholarships were recognized during a reception on Tuesday, June 16, at the newly-completed Franconia Governmental Center in Kingstowne. This year’s awardees included 21 undergraduate students, 11 graduate students, and 12 staff development scholarship recipients.

During the reception, Foundation Scholarship Committee Chair, Dr. Gail V. Ritchie recognized the recipients in attendance and presented each with a certificate. Fairfax Library Foundation Chair Miriam Smolen and Acting Executive Director Cheryl Ann Lee were on hand to congratulate recipients, along with many members of the Foundation’s board of directors.

This year’s recipients are:

Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients

• Karsten Anderer, Friends of Great Falls Library in Honor of Dale Henderson Undergraduate Scholarship

• Sophie Burrell, Friends of Great Falls Library in Honor of Dale Henderson Undergraduate Scholarship

• Edward Burros, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Alice Cao-Dao, Cynthia D. Gabrielli Undergraduate Scholarship from Gail V. Ritchie and the Ritchie Family

• Sai Charan Chaduruvelly, Friends of Burke Centre Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Melissa Gamarra, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Jordan Gee, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Amelia Hart, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Jared Houston, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Leanna Leung, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Zayan Meah, Friends of Burke Centre Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Sibel Mehmed, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Natalia Mena, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Liyana Mohammed, Friends of Centreville Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Sara Nadkarni, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Jolie Nguyen, Fairfax Library Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship

• Sarah Roelke, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

• Sanya Singhal, Christine Chambers-Chun Undergraduate Scholarship

• Pranav Sirigiri, Savkar-Loser READ Undergraduate Scholarship

• Albert Zhu, Friends of Great Falls Library in Honor of Dale Henderson Undergraduate Scholarship

• Bailey Zimmerman, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Undergraduate Scholarship

Graduate Scholarship Recipients

• Kathleen Cheon, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Sara Marie Donovan, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Ginger Hawkins, Friends of Burke Centre Library Graduate Scholarship

• Rebecca Harriet Gray Kurylo, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Emily Litsinger, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Margot Hayley Gonzalez Manburg, Friends of George Mason Regional Library Graduate Scholarship

• Natalie Minehart, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Nandita Rebello, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Christine Tolson, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Katie Treichler, Fairfax Library Foundation Graduate Scholarship

• Larissa Yates, Friends of Great Falls Library Graduate Scholarship

Staff Development

• Prathibha Ammenadka

• Jane Ampah

• Luis Aponte

• Suzanne Cross

• Valerie Drummond

• Alicia Korker

• David Mercer

• Tina Mraz

• Hannivett Nabahe

• Janelle Ortiz

• Michelle Pepino

• Christine Torregrossa

Fairfax Library Foundation awards scholarships annually to library staff and volunteers in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax. To date, the Foundation has awarded $248,500 to 190 undergraduate students, $313,000 to 109 graduate students, and $103,309 to FCPL employees for staff development. Further information about Fairfax Library Foundation scholarships can be found here.

Since 1994, the Fairfax Library Foundation has existed solely with the mission to enhance the programs and services of the Fairfax County Public Library, the largest public library system in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable and educational organization, the Foundation provides supplementary support to the community by providing access to information, technology, innovations, civic engagement and entertainment, and by offering literacy and educational opportunities.

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