2024 ECLF Scholarship Winner
Aicha Hermes
Albemarle High School
The judges call Aicha, “Awesome on every level, meaning ALL the levels.”
Read more about Aicha and more about other 2024 scholarship winners.
2024 ECLF Joshua J. Scott Merit Scholarship Winner
Sonia Kamath
St. Anne’s-Belfield School
The judges say Sonia has an incredible ability to communicate and listen, and she brings a sense of humility that allows her to connect with others immediately.
HONORING EMILY COURIC
Virginia State Senator Emily Couric | June 5, 1947 – October 18, 2001
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum honors Emily’s contributions to our community by encouraging all women to adopt an active role in government, public issues, and policy debates affecting their communities, and to inspire young women to pursue activities which will empower them to become effective leaders.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Since 2001, we’ve awarded over $1.75 million in scholarships to 194 young women leaders in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum awards college scholarships to 11 outstanding local female high school seniors who demonstrate leadership and service in their schools and community. Each Charlottesville and Albemarle public and private high school nominates an inspiring young woman who then receives a scholarship at the Luncheon event.
The Board recently named the merit award in memory of the late Joshua J. Scott, a beloved member of our community who worked with Senator Couric and served for many years on the interview and selection panel for the scholarship awards, where he was a tireless advocate for offering a merit award.
Second Annual Emerging Leader Roundtable
In September, the Forum invited 30 young women and about the same number of outstanding local women leaders for informal conversation in our Second Annual Emerging Leaders Roundtable. Our goal for this event, and for the mentoring relationships that it initiates, is to inspire leadership among young (10th and 11th grade) women from first generation and underrepresented communities. By engaging with local women leaders, we hope these young women will recognize their personal leadership potential.
Inspiring. Empowering. Impactful.
Past Scholarship Winners
Scholarship Recipients At a Glance
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP AWARD
Each year, ECLF acknowledges an exceptional woman who exemplifies leadership in her profession and her community with the Emily Couric Women’s Leadership Award.
Our Women’s Leadership Award honors women who embody the highest achievements in government, public issues, policy debates, and leadership affecting their communities. Emily Couric was the first recipient of this award in 2001, and the inspiration behind our mission. The beneficiary of this award offers the keynote address at the Luncheon.
Stay tuned to see who our Women’s Leadership Award Recipient is for 2023. Announcement coming soon.
To date, the Forum has awarded over $1.75 million in college scholarships since 2001.
Eleven young women nominated from Charlottesville City and Albemarle County high schools are being recognized for their leadership and outstanding contributions to their community in 2023.
“An eager willingness to serve others is undoubtedly one of the most attractive attributes an individual can possess”