Anya Elizabeth Hawkins, West Springfield High School, 2018

Anya just graduated from West Springfield High School. She’s been accepted at James Madison University. She’s an AP scholar, an honor graduate with a 4.0 GPA, and holds membership in several honor societies.

Anya loves journalism, and has worked on the school paper, The Oracle, for four years, culminating in her role as editor-in-chief her senior year.

She’s been active in Cross Country and Track for the past four years and was Captain of the Varsity Cross Country and Track teams for her senior year. She has enjoyed helping other athletes become part of a team, and we suspect her athletic experiences have led to her interest in kinesiology and physical therapy—areas she plans to study at JMU.

Committed to helping others grow and succeed, Anya is an officer in the Girl Up Organization. Sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, this organization engages girls to “help the hardest to reach girls living in places where it is hardest to be a girl.” 

In addition to serving as a Grace tutor since the 8th grade, Anya participated in Tri-Cities work camp and George’s Kids.

In the community, Anya also volunteered her time for the local youth club, Springfield/South County Youth Club (SYC), coaching a girls’ soccer team for four seasons. It has been noted that whatever group Anya joins, she goes all out, participating actively, and including and mentoring others along the way.

We’re delighted to award Anya the Jennifer Lynn Bernhards Memorial Scholarship for $1500 to be used towards her studies at James Madison University.