The fourth-annual College Access Fairfax Scholars’ awards reception was held last Wednesday, May 21 at Annandale High School. Carlos Galicia of Alexandria won a $1,000 scholarship to help defray costs at Hampden Sidney College.
Carlos is interested in pursing a career in political science at Hampton Sidney this fall. Carlos testified at both the School Board and Board of Supervisors’ hearings on the budget, advocating for funding on behalf of the schools. He brought down the house in both cases. And Carlos has used his speaking skills in many more ways — he is a member of the Hispanic Leadership Club, has spoken at town hall meetings for the National Council of La Raza on education and civic engagement, and has shared his experiences as a child of Latino immigrants with students at the Georgetown Day School and Sidwell Friends — private schools in Washington, D.C. An attendee of Boys State, Carlos was also vice president of the SGA this year.
Founded in 2004 by former Virginia Education Secretary James Dyke, School Board member Tessie Wilson and former School Board member Chris Braunlich, College Access Fairfax provides one-on-one financial aid advice and counseling to high school juniors and seniors in targeted high schools with high percentages of low-income and Limited English Proficient students.