2023 TJAAG Future STEM Leaders Award

The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJ) Alumni Action Group (TJAAG) is thrilled to announce the 2023 TJAAG Future Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Leaders Award. We will select two winners, each of whom will receive a $1,000 scholarship award.

Results for the 2023 TJAAG STEM Leaders awards

Eligibility

Applicant must be a student in good standing (minimum GPA of 2.0) of the 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade attending a public high school in Arlington County, Fairfax County (including City of Fairfax), Falls Church City, Loudoun County, or Prince William County. A transcript of the student's academic record may be requested to confirm eligibility.

How to apply

Applicants should complete the application form online. The application form includes three short (500 word maximum) essay questions. They must submit the completed form by 11:59pm Eastern Time on January 31, 2023. All applicants will receive a confirmation email that their completed application was received. If an applicant submits an application but does not receive a confirmation email within 72 hours, please email scholarship@tjaag.org.

Evaluation process

All applications will be evaluated on the basis of how successfully they express the following criteria: interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), demonstrated commitment to DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), and creative and collaborative problem-solving skills. A panel of at least three evaluators will score each application on the basis of the above criteria. Applications that surpass a target score will be placed in a pool and a lottery drawing will select the final award winners. All applicants will be notified by March 24, 2023 once the final decision is made.

Award

One $1,000 award will be presented to the student at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJ) whose application has been selected. One $1,000 award will be presented to the non-TJ student whose application has been selected. TJAAG may highlight additional applicants for honorable mentions, but honorable mentions will not be accompanied by a monetary award. As a condition of accepting the award or honorable mention, winning applicants (or their parents or guardian if under the age of 18) must agree to allow TJAAG to share their name and photo on the TJAAG website and social media.

Confidentiality

All applicant information and application content will be kept private and shared only with the evaluators scoring the application. TJAAG will obtain permission from the applicant before using any content from the applicant’s essays, such as quoting the applicant on social media. As previously mentioned, winning applicants (or if they are under the age of 18 their parent or legal guardian) must agree to allow TJAAG to share their name and photo on the TJAAG website and social media.

Accommodations

Please contact scholarship@tjaag.org to request any accommodations or ask any questions about the application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I support the TJAAG Future STEM Leaders Award?

Please consider contributing to TJAAG via our donation page, which will help us continue our work advancing education equity and support this scholarship.

If you are interested in becoming a corporate sponsor for any future TJAAG scholarships, please contact scholarship@tjaag.org.

Who are you?

TJAAG is a group of more than 1,000 Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJ) alumni that seeks to enhance accessibility, inclusion, and innovation within STEM education in order to develop well-rounded and ethical 21st-century leaders. We are a committed group of volunteers from diverse backgrounds: Black, Latinx, Asian, White, Indigenous, mixed-race, women, men, parents and non-parents, married and single, immigrants and non-immigrants, English language learners and native speakers, and lived experience across the socioeconomic spectrum. What unites us is our vision of an equitable, inclusive education for all children in Northern Virginia. Check out the webpage on Our Team for more information

Why are you offering an award to a non-TJ student?

Although our organization is comprised of TJ alumni, we recognize that academic excellence, passion for STEM, and commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and innovation are not limited to the TJ community alone. By recognizing a TJ student and a non-TJ student, we seek to celebrate diverse perspectives and challenge the harmful narrative that only one school can provide a top-notch education.

Do I need to submit a resume or recommendation letters?

No. We understand high schoolers have enough on their plates and wanted to make an application that was more accessible and less burdensome.

Will I need to interview as part of the application process?

No.

What if I and my parent or legal guardian do not consent to TJAAG using my photo and name online?

Applicants who do not consent to TJAAG using their photo and name online cannot be selected as winners or honorable mentions. TJAAG looks forward to highlighting and amplifying the inspiring words and stories of winning applicants.

How do I request an accommodation?

Please contact us at scholarship@tjaag.org.

I have a question that’s not answered here. Whom should I contact?