2018 Academic Merit Award Winners

Founded in 1926, the AFSA scholarship program awarded a record $349,000 this year. In need-based Financial Aid Scholarships, $220,000 was divided among 59 students. In Merit Awards, 41 awards totaled $129,000.

Below are the 2018 AFSA Merit Award winners. Recipients will be honored at the annual Youth Awards Ceremony on July 13, 2018 in the Marshall Center at Main State. Winners received $3,500, Honorable Mentions $2,000, and the Best Essay $1,000. AFSA thanks all of the judges and donors who made this year’s Merit Awards possible.

Click here to view the Art Merit Award winner, the Community Service Award winner, and the Best Essay Award winner.

For more information on the AFSA Scholarship Program, visit www.afsa.org/scholar.

Academic Merit Award Winners


Max Barte — son of Peter (State) and Deanna Barte, graduated from the International School of Beijing, Beijing, China. Plans to attend the University of Virginia to study political science.

Svenya G. Braich — daughter of Kirninder (State) and Andria (State) Braich, graduated from the American School of Paris, St. Cloud, France. Plans to attend Stanford University to study chemistry. Received a Joanna and Robert Martin Academic Merit Award.

Julia Burleson — daughter of Edward (State) and Namiko Burleson, graduated from the American School of The Hague, Wassenaar, The Netherlands. Plans to attend Johns Hopkins University to study public health.

Emmaline Calhoun — daughter of Robert (State) and Alice Calhoun, graduated from Seoul Foreign School, Seoul, Korea. Plans to attend the University of Virginia to study biology. Received the John and Priscilla Becker Family Academic Merit Award.

Daniela Carney — daughter of Brian Carney (USAID) and Maria Farinha, graduated from Walworth Barbour American International School, Even Yehuda, Israel. Plans to attend Brown University. Also received a Community Service Honorable Mention Award.

Gabriella Chu — daughter of Elaine Tiang-Chu (State) and Martin Chu (State, retired), graduated from Seoul Foreign School, Seoul, Korea. Plans to attend the University of Virginia to study foreign affairs and linguistics.

Cora Deininger — daughter of Heather Schildge (USAID) and Erwin Deininger, graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia. Plans to attend the University of Vermont to study biology/health and society.

Talia Enav — daughter of Cari (State) and Doron Evav, graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Virginia. Plans to attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study engineering. Also received the Art Merit Award.

Forest Evanson — son of Katherine (State) and Paul (State) Evanson, graduated from Walworth Barbour American International School, Even Yehuda, Israel. Plans to attend Boston University.

Maxine Anna Forder — daughter of Kenneth (State, retired) and Sylvie Forder, graduated from Lycée Français Magendie, Bordeaux, France. Plans to attend McGill University to study psychology.

Madeleine Leilani Hand — daughter of Katherine Munchmeyer (State) and Henry Hand (State), graduated from Episcopal High School, Alexandria, Virginia. Plans to attend Colby College.

George Alexander Kent — son of George (State) and Velida Kent, graduated from Pechersk School International, Kiev, Ukraine. Plans to attend Harvard College to study international relations.

Leah Macht Kleinberg — daughter of Scott Kleinberg (USAID) and Alisa Macht, graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Virginia. Plans to attend the University of Virginia to study biology. Received a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Academic Merit Award.

Alexander E. Knapper — son of Mark (State) and Suzuko Knapper, graduated from St. Albans School, Washington, D.C. Plans to attend Northwestern University to study international relations and journalism.

Alina Joan Kramp — daughter of Eric (State) and Kyoko Kramp, graduated from Cranbrook Upper School, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Plans to attend Yale University to study theater.

Abigail Macy — daughter of John (USAID) and Amy Macy, graduated from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio. Plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University to study violin performance. Also received an Art Honorable Mention Award.

Clara Matton — daughter of Richard Matton (State) and Nancy Fisher, graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Virginia. Plans to attend Cornell University to study computer science. Received the Turner C. Cameron Jr. Memorial Academic Merit Award.

Meghan Murphy — daughter of W. Patrick Murphy (State) and Kathleen Norman, graduated from George Mason High School, Falls Church, Virginia. Plans to attend Brown University to study international relations. Received the Donald S. Memorial and Maria Giuseppa Spigler Academic Merit Award and the Linda K. Fitzgerald Memorial Community Service Award.

Sophie Nichols — daughter of Brian Nichols (State) and Geraldine Kam (State), graduated from Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lima, Peru. Plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania to study philosophy, politics and economics. Received a Joanna and Robert Martin Academic Merit Award.

Kristian Noll — son of George (State) and Kim Marie Noll, graduated from Korea International School, Seoul, Korea. Plans to attend St. Olaf College to study political science. Also received the Best Essay Award.

Ravi Patch — son of Christopher (State) and Gretel Patch, graduated from the American School of Bombay, Mumbai, India. Plans to attend Brigham Young University to study actuarial science.

Ewan Pratt — son of Adrian (State) and Margaret Pratt, graduated from the American School of The Hague, Wassenaar, Netherlands. Plans to attend Northern State University to study international relations.

Yasmin Ranz-Lind — daughter of David Ranz (State) and Taly Lind (USAID), graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda, Maryland. Plans to attend Syracuse University to study acting.

Kayla Smith — daughter of Mary Ellen (FAS) and Matthew Smith, graduated from St. Johns International School, Waterloo, Belgium. Plans to attend Boston College to study biochemistry.

Peter Smitham — son of Thomas Smitham (State) and Alexandra Maduros, graduated from Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Maryland. Plans to attend the University of Maryland to study computer science.

Alexander Toyryla — son of Kendra (State) and Michael (State) Toyryla, graduated from the International Community School, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Plans to attend the College of William and Mary to study physics.

Herbert S. Traub IV — son of Herbert (State, retired) and Ulrike Traub, graduated from the American International School Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Plans to attend Boston University.

Colin L. Vanelli — son of Mark (State) and Jane Vanelli, graduated from the International School Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand. Plans to attend Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, to study history and politics.

James Villemarette — son of Johanna (State) and Raymond Villemarette, graduated from Flint Hill School, Oakton, Virginia. Plans to attend the University of Delaware to study computer science.

Liam Webster — son of Jonathan (State) and Patricia Webster, graduated from Washington-Lee High School, Arlington, Virginia. Plans to attend Cornell University to study mechanical engineering. Received a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Academic Merit Award.