Nominate an Outstanding FCPS Alumni for the 2025 Hall of Fame!
Dear Educate Fairfax Supporter:
Thank you for your continued support of Educate Fairfax!
As schools enter the final quarter of the year and we head into graduation and class reunion season, we wanted to share information about two scholarships for FCPS seniors, how you can nominate an outstanding FCPS graduate for the 2025 Alumni Hall of Fame, and invite you to save the date — May 27 — for a special event we are planning. More information to come!
We continue to receive updates from the recipients of our 100+ Educate Fairfax grants, including several this month honoring the military child.
Rolling Valley Elementary School used grant money to purchase picture books and plan an assembly on April 9, Purple Up! Day, that included confidence-building activities and opportunities to create a deeper sense of community among military-connected students and their peers. Military-connected students were celebrated during the assembly, and every classroom, the school library, and the main office received a picture book about the military or military-connected students.
We love seeing how these grants impact FCPS students across the county!
We encourage you to follow us on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter), where we share the stories of our grant recipients, along with other inspiring news about what's happening to improve educational outcomes across our school division.
Warm wishes,
Dr. Lynette Henry
Executive Director
Educate Fairfax
 Mission First, People Always: How One FCPS Grad Turned Military Moves Into a Path to Leadership
Meet Sarah Locke, proud FCPS alum and West Point graduate.
As April is the Month of the Military Child we wanted to honor their resilience and strength by featuring an outstanding FCPS alum who grew up in a military home and then also chose to follow in her Army officer parents footsteps.
Sarah found a sense of belonging and a spark to serve her country during her time at FCPS.
Click below to read more about Sarah on our blog.
READ MORE>>
Educate Fairfax Grant Highlight - South County Middle School's Blankets for Veterans
Because April celebrates the military child we are highlighting several Educate Fairfax Grants that go hand in hand with military-connected students.
Seventh and eighth grade students at South County Middle School have been meeting weekly since mid-September to make blankets for veterans.
Under the direction of English Teacher Lisa Reaves and Cindy Downing, a retired South County teacher, the students have been busy making over 85 blankets, with a goal to complete 90 before a June 3 Honor Flight where they plan to give them to veterans along with personalized cards.
An Honor Flight is a nonprofit program that transports veterans, free of charge, to Washington D.C. to visit the memorial built in their honor.
The impact of the program is two-fold: to provide the students with opportunities to make a difference in society and to increase their self-esteem by developing soft skills, like listening, interpersonal skills and communication that are beneficial in real-world settings.
“Because our dads served in the Vietnam War, we have a special place for military veterans. Our passion for creating a sense of purpose with an authentic audience helps students make the change and become global and ethical citizens. This service-learning project teaches patriotism by honoring, acknowledging, and showing respect for the sacrifice the veterans made in serving their country.” -Lisa Reaves
This is the school's seventh year making patriotic blankets for Honor Flights.
Educate Fairfax Scholarships: Expanding Opportunities for Students
We are excited to share more information about how we are helping to ensure that every FCPS student has the opportunity to succeed beyond high school, regardless of their background or financial situation.
We offer three scholarships: the Imagine! Believe! Achieve! Post-Secondary Scholarship, the Gateway to Careers Scholarship (coming soon), and, through a partnership with the Love Like Adam Foundation, the Love Like Adam Scholarship.
- The Post-Secondary Scholarship provides financial assistance to students pursuing post-secondary education at a community college, trade school, or university who may face additional barriers to achieving their goals. The application window is now open and closes April 30.
- The Gateway to Careers Scholarship is for FCPS juniors and seniors enrolled in Career and Technical Education programs and helps them work toward career certifications and advancement.
- The Love Like Adam Scholarship is awarded to three graduating seniors every spring. Recipients are selected based on how well they exemplify the values of kindness, empathy, inclusivity, and strong character—traits that reflect the legacy of Adam Oakes, for whom the scholarship is named. The nomination period for 2025 is now open and will close April 16.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO >>
(If you would like to learn more about how to start a scholarship fund for FCPS students through Educate Fairfax reach out to us at info@educatefairfax.org)
FCPS Budget Shortfall in the News
You may have heard about a funding shortfall in Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. The current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million. FCPS cannot continue to sustain excellence in the face of underfunding and budget cuts.
While Educate Fairfax is not affiliated with the school budget process, we encourage you to stay informed about the potential impact on our FCPS schools.
An excellent public education system drives the local economy, attracts businesses, and creates opportunity for all. FCPS has provided detailed information about the budget, along with ways for the community to engage, on their website.
Your voice matters, and your support is essential to ensure that FCPS has the resources it needs to sustain vital programs.
Learn more and get involved at https://www.fcps.edu/crossroads
Tell Us Your FCPS Story
Was there a particularly memorable teacher, counselor, classmate, or class that really made a difference for you? Perhaps there was a sport or club that really stands out in your memory or an experience that guided you to where you are today? We'd love to hear about it!
Please share a blurb, story, photo, or video - and let us know if we can include it on our website or an upcoming alumni newsletter. You may also post on your chosen social media and send us a link.
- Please share how FCPS shaped your success.
- Why strong public schools matter - especially now.
- A call to others encouraging them to speak up and share their own stories.
UPLOAD HERE >>
Nominate a Distinguished FCPS Alumni Today!
We are currently accepting nominations for the 2025 FCPS Hall of Fame.
Do you know an outstanding FCPS alum who deserves recognition - maybe even yourself?
Nominations are open now through May 31, 2025 for the next class of inductees.
For more than 150 years, Fairfax County Public Schools has been providing education that empowers students to excel in all aspects of life. Today, thousands of FCPS alumni are leaders in many industries across the globe.
Our alumni are a testament to the power of public schooling!
NOMINATE HERE >>
Save the Date!
Upcoming Educate Fairfax Event - Tuesday May 27, 2025! (Opening doors for tomorrow's leaders!)
We are planning a special event for FCPS alumni, graduating seniors, business partners, and the entire FCPS community in May. Stay tuned for details and check out what we did at our last gathering - An alumni trivia night at Kelly's Oyster Bar.
Other Key Dates:
- April 30: Scholarship deadline
- May 31: FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame nominations due
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