Savannah Overby, a 2023 graduate of Halifax County High School, has been granted one of the nation’s most prestigious honor scholarships.
Overby was chosen as one of 17 beneficiaries of the newly founded Walentas Scholarship by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation, which has historically attracted extraordinary talent to the University of Virginia through its Jefferson Scholars Program. She will begin her studies at U.Va. in the fall.
Candidates must go through a rigorous, extremely competitive, multi-stage selection procedure in order to be appointed a Walentas Scholar.
First, their high schools or connected groups nominate them based on their demonstrated achievement and great potential in leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Furthermore, Walentas Scholar candidates must be the first generation in their families to attend college.
After being nominated, students must go through at least one round of regional interviews. Students who are chosen as regional finalists are then invited to participate in a final round of interviews.
Overby, like the other 17 recipients of the 2023 Walentas Scholarship, has a long list of accomplishments. She was a four-year member of the Academic Competition for Excellence (ACE) team, the cross country team, the Halifax County Gun Club “Clay Busters,” Robotics Camp, and a volunteer at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research at Halifax County High School.
Overby will join a cohort of 158 scholars now supported by the foundation at the University of Virginia, as well as a community of over 933 scholar alumni.
Walentas Scholars benefit from a variety of enrichment programs supported by the foundation, including travel abroad, career networking activities, and a leadership lecture series, in addition to receiving complete tuition for four years at the University.