The LaceLocker® Scholarship Fund Recipients 2026
We welcome these 2026 Recipients to the LaceLocker® family !!
Amonie Lee was born and raised in Charlottesville. She lives with her mother and twin brothers. Her mom is a single parent. Amonie’s dad hasn’t really played a part in her life. One of her brothers is a special needs student who also graduated this year. Her brother was in small, special education classes but switched to general education classes during his sophomore year. Amonie regularly helped him with his school work while also doing her work.
At CHS, she has been involved with many clubs and organizations including the SCA (treasurer), Key Club, WOCHA (Women of color, honor and ambition), and Y-Street (organization encouraging good health habits for teenagers.) WOCHA is an organization in partnership with UVa that strives to encourage diversity, equity and inclusion. She has also been a team manager for Girls Field Hockey and varsity Girls Basketball. In her “spare” time, she also works at The Dollar Tree.
She is graduating with a 4.03 GPA. She plans to attend Old Dominion University to study criminal justice. Amonie first became interested in the field during the pandemic, at home watching Law and Order and other crime shows with her grandmother. She hopes to one day become a homicide detective. She enjoys the problem-solving aspect of the job and wants to help others. In her spare time, she enjoys sleeping, cooking, watching crime shows and documentaries.
"My goals for the future are rooted in service, justice, and leadership. I plan to major in criminal justice and pursue a career where I can advocate for fairness, protect communities, and help create meaningful change within the justice system. Growing up, I became aware at an early age that not everyone is treated equally under the law. Watching news coverage, learning about real cases, and having conversations in school pushed me to ask deeper questions—not just about crime, but about prevention, accountability, and reform. Those questions shaped my desire to be part of the solution rather than a bystander. College is essential to helping me reach these goals because it will provide both the academic foundation and the real-world experiences I need to succeed. Through coursework in criminal law, sociology, ethics, and public policy, I will gain a deeper understanding of how the justice system operates and how it affects different communities. Beyond the classroom, college will allow me to participate in internships, research, and community service opportunities that will help me apply what I learn to real situations. These experiences will prepare me for graduate school or a career in criminal justice, law enforcement, or advocacy. I believe I am an ideal candidate for this scholarship because I am driven, resilient, and committed to using my education to serve others. Throughout high school, I have balanced academic responsibilities with leadership roles and community involvement, learning the importance of discipline and time management. I take pride in working hard and pushing myself, even when challenges arise. I am not pursuing higher education only for personal success, but to uplift others and contribute positively to society. This scholarship would not only ease the financial burden of college, but it would also affirm my dedication to my goals. With your support, I will be able to focus fully on my education and continue striving to become a leader who stands for justice, integrity, and positive change."
"My mother is a single parent raising me and my twin brothers largely on her own. My father has not been consistently involved in our lives, which has placed the responsibility of providing emotional and financial stability primarily on my mother. She works hard to support our household, but meeting daily expenses while preparing for the cost of college has been challenging.
Recognizing these challenges, I chose to get a job to help contribute financially and ease some of the pressure on my mother. Although she encouraged me to save and use my earnings for my own needs and future, my decision to work taught me responsibility, independence, and the value of supporting family. Balancing school, work, and family responsibilities has not always been easy, but it has strengthened my work ethic and determination to succeed.
Despite these financial obstacles, my mother has always emphasized the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity and stability. However, the cost of college remains a significant concern for our family. Receiving financial assistance would greatly reduce the burden on my mother and allow me to focus fully on my academic goals. This scholarship would not only help make college more affordable, but it would also support a student who understands sacrifice, perseverance, and the importance of giving back. I am committed to using my education to build a better future for myself and my family."
Ghazal Paiwand
"I am from Afghanistan, a place where conflict has silenced countless dreams. For many girls there, the idea of sitting in a classroom or imagining a career is out of reach. In August 2024, my family and I began a new chapter when we moved to the United States. It felt like a second chance, a chance to build the kind of future my parents always wished for me but could not guarantee. Arriving in America was overwhelming, yet full of hope. Everything was new- schools, culture, even the language spoken around us. But I was not afraid. For two years, while we were waiting in Pakistan for our case to be approved, I had dedicated myself to studying English. Before moving to Pakistan, I could barely speak English, but during those two years, I made it my mission to learn English. I remember spending afternoons teaching my younger siblings and even neighbor kids what I had just learned, turning our small apartment into a classroom. I knew that if the day ever came when we could start over in the U.S, language would be our bridge to opportunity. The time I spent learning and teaching English shaped my first days in high school. My counselor placed me in ESL classes before she could even meet me in person but when she heard me speaking fluently, they moved me into honors classes which was a big achievement for me as someone who just moved to a new country. Almost immediately, I became an interpreter not just for Afghan classmates but also for my parents. I still remember translating at my mom’s first doctor’s appointment. She was holding my hands tightly, nervous and unsure, and I realized in that moment that I was her connection to this new world. Education quickly became more than schoolwork for me. It represented freedom. I consider myself one of the luckiest girls to walk into the classroom each morning, knowing how many back home are denied this right. This is why I take my studies so seriously and why attending college is not just a personal dream, it’s a responsibility. As the oldest child and the first in my family to continue my education, I know I must set an example for my siblings and other immigrant students out there."
"Beyond academics, I have looked for every opportunity to connect with my school and community. Being a part of link crew leadership has allowed me to mentor freshmen and guide students who, like me, are adjusting to a new environment. I also participated in the “be the change” internship working with University of Virginia students to help immigrant students with their education journey. I earned a scholarship to complete a pre-nursing online course at Georgetown university where I learned about the responsibilities and skills needed to be a nurse. I’m also a member of Discover medicine club, where we experience hands-on medical learning at the University of Virginia school of medicine. Outside school, I play volleyball which taught me discipline and teamwork and I work a part-time job to support my family. I also carry family responsibilities like interpreting for my parents during hospital visits and helping my younger siblings with their school work. Learning to adapt to a new life taught me patience, compassion, and the power of connection. Whether I was interpreting for my parents, teaching English to my siblings, volunteering through internships, or balancing school and a part-time job, I discovered how meaningful it is to help others. My experiences developed my passion for Nursing, a dream I have carried since a very young age. Nursing feels like a reflection of who I have become as a person, someone who listens with understanding, communicates clearly, remains calm under pressure, and finds strength in caring for others. Coming from a background where girls did not have equal access to education, the chance to attend college is deeply personal to me. It represents a right that many girls in Afghanistan are still denied, and earning my degree feels like reclaiming that right not only for myself, but for those who cannot. For me college is more than earning a degree. It is a path toward the future I have always imagined and a chance to turn my experience into a career dedicated to service. I want to be the person who bridges comfort to families facing challenges similar to my own, and help patients feel seen and understood."
"College will give me the knowledge, training and clinical experience I need to achieve my goals, and it will surround me with mentors who can guide me in this journey. Your support would not only help me continue my education, but also allow me to give back to my community, serve families with compassion and show other immigrant students that their dreams are worth fighting for."
Jaikeira Washington
Jaikeira was born and raised in Charlottesville. She lives in a single parent home along with two siblings. She credits her hardworking mom for teaching her the importance of resilience, responsibility and perseverance.
During her time at CHS, she has taken 4 Advanced Placement Courses and 4 Dual Enrollment courses. She has been a student in AVID (program encouraging and supporting first generation students) throughout her high school career. She has maintained a rigorous course load and is finishing with a 3.67 GPA.
She plans to attend Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. She plans to continue on to law school with a goal to become an attorney. That goal stems from experiences of inequity. Growing up, she understood what it felt like to not always have someone to defend or support her, and that experience has inspired her to become the kind of person who stands up for others. She believes that everyone deserves justice and someone willing to advocate for them, regardless of their circumstances and wants to be that person!
She states, “This scholarship will bring me several steps closer to achieving my educational goals by helping ease the financial burden of college. More importantly, it will allow me to continue pursuing my dream of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others through the legal profession.”
Amonie Lee
