Opportunities to Grow 

BEYOND the Classroom

**The enrichment opportunities listed are provided for informational purposes only and are not sponsored, endorsed nor supervised by Albemarle High School nor Albemarle County Public Schools. These programs may take place after school, on weekends, or during the summer. AHS/ACPS does not monitor or oversee students’ participation in these programs and is not responsible for the programs, their providers, or any related activities. Parents/guardians are responsible for determining whether an opportunity is appropriate for their student and are strongly encouraged to accompany or chaperone their student at these program. Families should independently review each opportunity, including its safety policies, supervision arrangements, and requirements, before participating.** 

Local & Virginia Opportunities to Grow (for Students) Fall 2026

Virginia National Bank Finance Career and Leadership Academy

Virginia National Bank (VNB) is proud to announce that it is currently taking applications for its 2027 Finance Career and Leadership Academy (FCLA, Academy)!

The FCLA is an in-depth and challenging educational program that offers students in high school the training and skills necessary to understand and manage one’s personal finances, obtain employment and excel as a professional, AND potentially lay the groundwork for a promising career in the banking and finance industry. The Academy is open to high school juniors and seniors and is free to those that are accepted into the program. 

The FCLA will be taught in-person with evening classes running from January 11 through June 4, 2027 (first class on Tuesday, January 12th), at Virginia National Bank’s Pantops office. The FCLA application deadline is Friday, November 20, 2026. Up to ten students will be accepted into the program. Upon completion of the Academy, high performing FCLA participants become candidates for VNB’s College Program. 

 www.vnb.com/fcla 

Library of Virginia--Strong Men & Women in Virginia History Student Contest

High school students in Virginia are invited to honor outstanding African Americans by participating in Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia’s Strong Men & Women in Virginia History student contest. This year’s contest is built around the inquiry process of project-based learning and is designed to hit grade-specific standards through a multidisciplinary approach. Students will use and develop creative and critical thinking skills as they clearly communicate contemporary issues that concern them. Finalists will receive an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their schools. This year's deadline is November 15, 2026.

https://www.lva.virginia.gov/services/education/smw/contest 

Virginia Summer Residential Governor's Schools

Summer Residential Governor's School is a three week pre-college program for current 10th/11th graders run by the Virginia Department of Education and partner Virginia colleges/universities.  Experience life on a college campus and research/study alongside top professors and peers from across the Commonwealth.  

*AHS sends students every summer to Governor's Schools and students LOVE it!

ACPS pays the tuition $$$$ if accepted (families are responsible for fees, low $$$)  

Humanities

Math Science & Technology

Agriculture (Environmental Science)

Mentorship-- Health and Medical Sciences

Mentorship--Engineering (JLAB)

Mentorship--Marine Science

World Language Academies in... 

Spanish

French

German

Latin

Introduction to Japanese 

Please visit the Governor's School TAB at the top of this Page for information on how to apply!  Deadlines:  Nov and Dec!

Writer’s Eye Writing Contest—Fralin Gallery (at UVA)

Are you a writer who is INSPIRED by art?  UVA's Fralin Gallery invites you to participate in Writer’s Eye, a literary competition organized by The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia. This ekphrastic writing competition challenges writers of all ages to create original poetry and prose inspired by works of art.  Due November 12

https://uvafralinartmuseum.virginia.edu/program/writers-eye 

Strong Men and Women in Virginia History Student Contest
High school students have the opportunity to celebrate Black Americans throughout Virginia, and reflect on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have impacted their educational journey, in Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia’s Men & Women in Virginia History student contest. This year’s contest is built around the inquiry process of project-based learning through a multidisciplinary approach. Finalists will receive an Apple MacBook Air and $1,000 for their schools. The deadline to enter is November 15. For additional details, visit the Library of Virginia's webpage.

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Student Poetry Contest
In coordination with Virginia Humanities, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia announces the launch of the Inaugural Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Student Poetry Contest. The competition invites elementary, middle, and high school students from across the Commonwealth to showcase their creativity, celebrate Virginia’s rich identity, and share their unique voices through poetry. Entries will be accepted through the submission portal through November 16.

Virginia Junior Academy of Sciences (Mentored Research Project)

Open to grades 7-12--students do mentored original research and present it at the symposium. 

https://vjas.org/

Virginia Space Grant Programming

Virginia Space Grant Consortium's Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) SUMMER PROGRAM

Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology offers an exciting way for current 9th/rising 10th grade students to spend three days of summer! Participating students get to stay in a college dorm and see what campus life is like on-site at one of our five partner universities: Old Dominion University, Radford University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, or William & Mary. No previous experience in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is needed, and this program is FREE for participants. BLAST is designed to help students find their place in STEM.

Each day of BLAST is jam-packed with STEM-related activities and demonstrations led by faculty of the university. Students come away from BLAST with a greater sense of curiosity, deeper insight about the variety of careers that exist in STEM fields, and enhanced readiness for advanced programs in science, technology, engineering, and math.

https://vsgc.odu.edu/blast/ 

National History Day/Virginia History Day Contest

Grades 9-12

Are you a historian?  Do you love history class or the study of history?  AHS has a NATIONALLY award-winning National History Day team and club.  You can enter the contest as an individual entry by creating a documentary, exhibit, performance, website (individual or group) or paper (individual only).  You can also enter as a team--groups may include two to five students.  

Have an IDEA?  Want to get started with your research?

Join the AHS National History Day Club on Fridays in Room 97H in the library or email Ms. H Newman TODAY.  Hnewman@k12albemarle.org  

Even More Opportunities

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Research Science Institute

Each summer, 100 of the world's most accomplished high school students gather at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI). In 2027, CEE is expanding the RSI to Stanford for 50 young scholars. RSI is the first cost-free to students, summer science & engineering program to combine on-campus course work in scientific theory with off-campus work in science and technology research.  We have had AHS students attend and really enjoy it! 

https://www.cee.org/programs/research-science-institute 

High School Diplomats

High School Diplomats (HSD) is a scholarship program that brings together high school students from the United States and Japan each summer through two parallel experiences.  HSD U.S. provides the opportunity for American and Japanese students to meet for eight days of cultural exchange in the United States.  HSD Japan allows American students who have successfully completed HSD U.S. to apply for a full scholarship to travel to Japan for several weeks the following summer.

Apply by Jan 19

 https://www.highschooldiplomats.com/ 

Bill of Rights Institute Community Impact Contest

invites young people nationwide to identify a challenge in their community and take meaningful action to address it, putting the principles of civic participation and self-government into practice

https://billofrightsinstitute.org/community-impact-contest/

Elie Wiesel Writing and Visual Arts Competition

Every year, the Holocaust Commission invites middle and high school students in grades 6-12 to participate in a writing and visual arts competition named in honor of Nobel Laureate and Holocaust Survivor, Elie Wiesel. 

https://holocaustcommission.jewishva.org/wiesel

The New York Times Annual Student Contests

Ten challenges that invite teenagers to engage, experiment, reflect and create — via writing, photography, audio, video and more. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/learning/our-2026-27-student-contest-calendar.html

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/d1d1bfebfceb6aee/fb746684-full.pdf 

CSpan Student Cam Short Documentary Competition

StudentCam is C-SPAN's annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think critically about issues that affect our communities and our nation.  2027 THEME: “Mr. Speaker, I Rise To…”  Envision yourself as a newly-elected member of Congress and produce a documentary about the issue you would address in your first House floor speech.  Grand Prize winners win $5000

The submission deadline is Jan 20

https://www.studentcam.org/ 

Study Abroad!  NSLIY--National Security Language Initiative-Youth 

NSLI-Y offers immersive programs abroad with a focus on language learning for American teens for a summer or an academic year.  Participants attend language classes, live with host families for all or part of the program, engage with the host community, and participate in a variety of cultural activities.  Summer Abroad, Academic Year Abroad, and Virtual Programs.  Critical languages include:  Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian

*I have had several (extremely mature) AHS students study abroad with NSLI-Y.

Previous language study is not required.  due November 12

https://www.nsliforyouth.org/ 

NaNoWriMo --National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, empowering approach to creative writing. The challenge: draft an entire novel in just one month. Why do it? For 30 wild, exciting, surprising days, you get to silence your inner critic, let your imagination take over, and just create!

*I had an AHS student write her first NOVEL during NaNoWriMo!

https://nanowrimo.org/national-novel-writing-month 

Critical Language Scholarship

https://clscholarship.org/ 

The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college and university students to study languages and cultures essential to America's engagement with the world. 

Each summer, American undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities across the country, spend eight to ten weeks learning one of thirteen languages at an intensive study abroad institute. The CLS Program is run by the US State Department and is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity.

Applications due in November 17

Doodle 4 Google

Doodle 4 Google submission are open! It's worth up to $50,000 and open to students K-12. due Dec 17 https://doodles.google.com/intl/ALL_in/d4g/rules/ 

The Coolidge Scholarship

The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study.   Students apply for the Coolidge Scholarship during their junior year of high school. Finalists are flown in for a finalist weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont where they interview with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury. Recipients of the Coolidge Scholarship are notified of their award late in their junior year, before college application (note: current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Finalists who are not named Coolidge Scholars are eligible to receive a smaller, one-time, college scholarship.  The main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars therefore is academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: demonstrated interest in public policy; an appreciation for the values Coolidge championed; as well as humility and service.  Due December 1 

 https://coolidgescholars.org/about/

MIT THINK

THINK is a science, research, and innovation program for high school students.

Rather than requiring students to have completed a research project before applying, THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project and are looking for additional guidance in the early stages of their project.

Selected finalists have weekly mentorship meetings with THINK team members and are given up to $1,000 in funding for their project. Additionally, if permitting, finalists are invited to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to MIT's campus, where they tour labs, present their research to MIT students and faculty, and hang out with members of the THINK team.  

Applications are due January 1

https://think.mit.edu/ 

John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest ($10,000 prize)

The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation invites U.S. high school students to describe and analyze an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official. due January 11

https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/education/profile-in-courage-essay-contest 

GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship

 The GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program offers college scholarships of up to $40,000 for high school seniors nationwide who showcase leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.  Deadline is January 7

https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-programs/ge-reagan-foundation-scholarship-program/ 

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship 

awards up to a $40,000 scholarship, due Jan 5

https://scholarshipamerica.org/amazonfutureengineer/ 

The Science Ambassador Scholarship 

https://www.scienceambassadorscholarship.org/ 

US Army Engineers High School Internships
https://www.usaeop.com/program/high-school-internships/ 

Simons Summer Research Program

 https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/simons/ 

Concerto Competition sponsored by the Marines

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, in conjunction with the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, is pleased to announce its Concerto Competition for High School Musicians is now open. All application materials are due by Nov. 15

https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Educational/Concerto-Competition/ 

Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award

The ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award (the “Award”) is granted annually to encourage talented young jazz composers during the earliest stages of their careers. due Dec 1

https://www.ascapfoundation.org/programs/awards/herb-alpert-composer 

Citizen Science--Projects and Ways to Get Involved from NASA

Join the scientific community by collecting data, analyzing results, and helping scientists solve real-world problems. 

Citizen Science (nasa.gov) 

https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/ 

Subscribe to the NASA Express Newsletter and never miss a Challenge (delivered every Thursday)

https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-express   

US Naval Academy Essay and Photography Contests

https://www.usni.org/essay-contests 

VCU Pre-College Programs in Music

The VCUarts Department of Music regularly hosts workshops, camps and other programs for middle- and high-school students and their families.  Programs happen year-round and include offerings for winds, brass, percussion, voice, piano, strings and more!

https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/music/pre-college-programs/ 

Smithsonian Magazine

 https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/categories/ 

Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards Grades 9-12

The nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in 28 different categories.  Receive scholarships, cash awards, or tuition assistance by participating in the Awards!

https://www.artandwriting.org/ 

Do you know multiple languages?  Are you bilingual?

*You may be eligible to take the STAMP test for the seal of biliteracy and can even earn credit (1-2 years) by exam for achieving a high STAMP test score in a language.  The STAMP test given at AHS is FAST approaching--talk to your counselor right away if you think you'd like to take the STAMP test this Spring.  The STAMP test is offered in many (but not all) languages...even ones that we do not teach here at AHS.  Contact your Counselor to sign up.

Looking to Improve Your SAT score?  Schoolhouse/Khan Academy SAT Bootcamp

SAT Bootcamps: 4-week programs in the month leading up to each official SAT date. Run by certified peer tutors who scored 700+. Average score improvement: 40-55 points

Classes at PVCC

Virginia residents have access to an excellent community college system. There are all kinds of classes you can take.  PVCC classes are reasonably priced for Virginians. You may even earn college credit.  Plus they offer financial aid if cost is an issue. What a cool way to explore an interest you can't explore in our school!  

You can start a college transcript.  

Note that courses taken at PVCC in the summer do NOT go on an ACPS transcript.  But you CAN request a transcript from PVCC to upload and show to colleges/universities!  Check with PVCC transfer specialist to see if your credits transfer to college.  https://www.pvcc.edu/summer-pvcc     

Students interested in attending PVCC after high school or learning more about this option can complete this interest form to be sure they receive information throughout the year.  PVCC Admissions representative Ms. Ratliff visits AHS on Mondays (in the counseling office) or on other days by appointment. Ms. Ratliff can help students with exploring PVCC programs and transfer options, applying to PVCC, applying for financial aid, requesting academic accommodations, registering for classes, and more. Email cratliff@pvcc.edu to request an appointment or ask questions!

Scholarships

QUESTBRIDGE Program 

https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/college-prep-scholars 

Applying to college can seem daunting, and the prospect of paying for it can seem even more overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. The College Prep Scholars Program equips high-achieving high school juniors from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence, and resources to apply to top colleges.  Application opens Feb 1, due in March (more info on the COLLEGE page)

QUESTBRIDGE--Apply to College

National College Match

Dream big and apply for full four-year scholarships to 55 top colleges through QuestBridge.

Eligibility:

• High school seniors currently attending high school in the U.S. and planning to attend college the fall after graduation, and U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad

• Earning primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered

• Demonstrating strong writing skills and intellectual curiosity, plus resilience, integrity, and motivation to succeed

• Typically from a household earning less than $65,000 annually with minimal assets (for a household of four members).

https://www.questbridge.org/apply-to-college 

The Cooke College Scholarship Programs 

is an undergraduate scholarship program available to high-achieving high school seniors with financial need who seek to attend and graduate from the nation's top four-year colleges and universities.

https://www.jkcf.org/ 

The Coolidge Scholarship

The Coolidge Scholarship is an annually awarded, full-ride, presidential scholarship that covers a student’s tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years of undergraduate study. The Coolidge may be used by recipients at any accredited college or university in the United States. Anyone of any background, pursuing any academic discipline of study, may apply to this non-partisan, need-blind, program.

Students apply for the Coolidge Scholarship during their junior year of high school. Finalists are flown in for a finalist weekend at the Coolidge Historic Site in Plymouth Notch, Vermont where they interview with the Coolidge Scholars Finalist Jury. Recipients of the Coolidge Scholarship are notified of their award late in their junior year, before college application (note: current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Finalists who are not named Coolidge Scholars are eligible to receive a smaller, one-time, college scholarship.

Calvin Coolidge worked hard in academics; the young New Englander’s only sport was public speaking, often on public policy. The main criterion that distinguishes Coolidge Scholars therefore is academic excellence. Secondary criteria include: demonstrated interest in public policy; an appreciation for the values Coolidge championed; as well as humility and service.  Due December 1 

 https://coolidgescholars.org/about/

Military Service

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

John McGuire's office's Service Academy Coordinator is Ben Yerdon.

Resources:

• Application

• Service Academy Day RSVP Form

Attached is a document titled One Page Service Academy Nomination Packet that lists all required documentation to be considered a complete application for the Service Academy Nomination.

·       Contact: ben.yerdon@mail.house.gov   

Local (Charlottesville) Teen Activities, Groups, and Clubs

Teen Leaders Club with Piedmont YMCA
The YMCA Teen Leaders Club is a program giving middle- and high-school-age teens opportunities to develop leadership skills, give back to their community through volunteer work, and have fun. Teens will strengthen skills centering on body, mind, and spirit. 

https://piedmontymca.org/teen-leaders-club  

c4K Clubhouse Charlottesville

Our members can take part either individually or as a group in a wide variety of STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Math activities in our makerspace in the Clubhouse, from virtual reality to audio and visual production.  C4K does 1:1 mentoring, group events, and field trips.   Check their website for eligibility.

https://c4kclubhouse.org/ 

Jefferson Madison Regional Library for Teens

Join JMRL Teens!   If I could choose one thing that my students do to expand their minds--it would be reading.  A lot.  Daily.  Be a reader.

Includes Book Clubs, Teen Advisory Board, Inkling Literary Magazine and more!  What's your reading goal this year? Get to know your local library system--Jefferson Madison Regional Library.  They are FREE and OPEN to the public.  Ms. Newman is a reader--I am ALWAYS reading!  

https://jmrl.org/teens 

Central Library Offerings

Music Resource Center

As a nonprofit after-school program, the Music Resource Center provides unlimited voice, instrument, and dance lessons, practice space, mentorship, access to instruments and equipment, performance opportunities, summer camps, and recording studio time to 6th – 12th grade students. 

https://musicresourcecenter.org/ 

Lighthouse Studio:  Learn the Art of Filmmaking 

During summer and throughout the year, LightHouse studio holds workshops, camps and community events that give young people opportunities to build new and lasting skills in filmmaking. In addition to filmmaking and technical abilities our students learn soft skills: collaboration, communication, planning, citizenship, creativity, and empathy.  Local--right here in Charlottesville!  

 https://lighthousestudio.org/ 

Charlottesville/Albemarle 4H

https://sites.google.com/view/albemarlecharlottesville-4-h/home 

Agriculture, Natural Resources, Leadership, Science/Technology/Engineering, Communication/Expressive Arts and so much more!

Be a high school DJ: WTJU Radio in Charlottesville

https://www.wtju.net/highschooldj/ 

Technology Youth Empowerment Volunteering Opportunity/UVA

Started by a WAHS graduate, TYE Connect is committed to providing quality, curiosity-driven STEM education in a world that often prioritizes test scores over true understanding. We create hands-on learning spaces where students feel confident asking questions, exploring ideas, and building knowledge through experience.”

What we do: STEM-focused workshops at local organizations in the Charlottesville area, often serving as afterschool programming for our partner organizations. Workshops usually run 45–60 minutes. Subject matter varies and is largely up to our STEM instructors.

TYE is looking for high school students to volunteer to help!  If interested, see the flyer at the top of the page.

Looking for a Scholarship?  Check Schoolinks (finances)! 

login using your ACPS account

Other places to look for scholarships:  Big Future/College Board

JLV College Counseling

Why should I bother with activities outside the classroom?
Engaging in enrichment activities will show future employers, mentors, and colleges that YOU are a lifelong learner. 
It grows your resume by giving you new experiences!
Most importantly, it might just ignite an academic passion and help you discover a future career or field of study that you LOVE.

AHS Revolution:  the Official News Source of AHS

https://ahsrevolution.org/ 

AHS Lantern:  Literary Magazine

https://ahslantern.wordpress.com/

AHS School Counseling

https://ahs.k12albemarle.org/students/school-counseling 

Tutoring at AHS

https://sites.google.com/k12albemarle.org/ahspeertutoring/home?authuser=0 

Looking for a Job or local Internship this summer?

login to Schoolinks and Click Careers.  search Opportunities, then check the box Opportunities Near Me

or email adinwiddie through Student Square--she is our Career Specialist

new postings weekly! 

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