Upper School Students Recognized for Academic Achievements

Award Descriptions

Students from Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight County are eligible to try out for All-District Chorus. Select students are then invited to perform with other top singers in the district during a two-day choral event with a guest conductor. This year, Raquel Vazquez '27 placed in the top five in the district among high school treble choir first sopranos.

Students from Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight County are eligible to try out for All-District Band. Select students are invited to perform with other top musicians in the district during a two-day event with a guest conductor. This year, Jack Daniels '24 was selected as fifteenth chair clarinet in our district.

The Princeton Book Awards are awarded each year to approximately 10 students in the Hampton Roads area for demonstrating exceptional leadership, talent, and competence in both academic and non-academic pursuits. Students nominated for this honor tend to be individuals who have performed exceptionally well in their academic pursuits, individuals who evidence creativity, imagination, tenacity, leadership, humility, and humor, and individuals who have demonstrated special strength of character, compassion and goodwill.

High Point University Junior Scholars are selected based on their unweighted GPA, standardized test scores and leadership activities. This program proudly recognizes and awards outstanding high school juniors for their strong, exceptional academic achievement, leadership and remarkable extracurricular involvement. Accepted Junior Scholar students are invited to an open house on campus in the fall to attend a luncheon in their honor.

The High Point University Sophomore Book Award is a newly-distinguished honor for sophomore high school students who not only show outstanding academic and social prowess, but also model an intuitive, growth mindset as well as demonstrated excellence and service in and out of the classroom. The award recognizes individuals who embody stellar classroom performance but also serve and want to make a difference in the community. This individual leads by example, understands the importance of academic endeavors and is committed to improving today’s society.

Sweet Briar College has been preparing women to be productive, responsible members of a world community since 1906. Focusing on personal and professional achievement through a customized educational program in an environment that is both intense, supportive and empowers women, the College has graduated generations of change-makers. Each spring, the college presents book awards to exceptional students in recognition of leadership skills and academic achievement, as well as those who are independently minded, community driven, intellectually curious and fiercely determined to set and achieve goals.

The Jefferson Book Award was established by the University of Virginia to recognize outstanding students during their junior year. The faculty of this school recognizes the recipient as a student who embraces creativity and innovation, and embodies the spirit of discovery. The recipient is a demonstrated citizen leader who works to improve their community locally or globally.

The Harvard Prize Book is an achievement award from the Harvard Alumni Association awarded to the outstanding high school student in their junior year who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievements in other fields.

The Tulane University Book Award recognizes high school juniors who embody Tulane's motto of "Not for one's self, but for one's own" and have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and public service. The award is given to one outstanding student at select high schools across the country every year.

The Hollins University Creative Writing Book Award recognizes a junior in high school who is nominated by their school because they have demonstrated interest and talent in creative writing, as well as sustained excellence in academic performance.

The Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, or HOBY, is the nation’s foremost youth leadership development organization. HOBY programs provide participants with unique leadership training to make a better world. The seminars allow students to recognize their leadership talents and apply them in becoming effective ethical leaders in their home, school and community. Students participate in hands-on leadership activities, meet leaders in their state and explore their own personal leadership skills while learning how to lead others and make a positive impact in their community.

The William & Mary Leadership Award is presented to the one student who best exemplifies the spirit of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Award recipients are selected for demonstrating inspirational leadership, outstanding scholarship and unwavering loyalty to the high school and community. The College of William & Mary has set the tone for both leadership and higher education since its founding in 1693.

The American Legion Virginia Boys State of Virginia is among the most respected educational programs of government instruction for high school students. Each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government. Young men who have demonstrated scholarship, patriotism, leadership, character, honesty, cooperativeness and physical fitness are eligible.

The Virginia Girls State is a program of The American Legion Auxiliary, a community service organization. For more than 100 years, the American Legion Auxiliary has been serving, helping and meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military, and their families both here and abroad. Virginia Girls State provides participants an opportunity to learn, in a few days, the mechanics, objectives and ideals of democracy. “Learning by doing” is the keynote to the success of this program.

The Rensselaer Medal was first presented in 1916 with two purposes: to recognize the superlative academic achievement of young men and women and to motivate students toward careers in science, engineering and technology. The Medal is awarded to promising juniors who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science.

Since 1933, the University of Rochester has participated in a tradition to help high schools recognize their most talented students. The Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award is awarded to a student with high achievement and rigor in science classes and outstanding math scores on the PSAT or SAT. Like Bausch and Lomb, the leading global technology-based company, the University has a proud history of innovation. Where science means much more than technological growth, they symbolize our commitment to discovery, analytical thought and process. The Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award is named in honor of two of the most significant pioneers in the fight to end inequalities, through dialogue and action. It recognizes commitment to understanding and addressing difficult social issues. The George Eastman Young Leaders Award is given to a student with strong leadership in school and in the community, plus extensive involvement in extracurricular activities. In founding the Eastman Kodak Company, George Eastman’s goal was to make the camera “as convenient as a pencil.” Eastman’s leadership lives on today through Kodak and through his philanthropy. The Xerox Award for Innovation and Technology recognizes students who share the pursuit of innovative approaches and appreciation for the possibility of technology.

The Continental Math League Contest is a national calculus competition. Each of the competitions consist of several rounds of questions designed to maximize both student opportunities to participate, improve problem-solving capabilities and challenge the students at their current ability level.

The Honors Precalculus class participates in a national math competition called MathFax. Four times during the school year, students take a 25-question timed test on advanced math concepts. Students are recognized for their placement locally and nationally.

The Award for Excellence in World Language recognizes a junior who has performed exceptionally well in a world language in the five language skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking and cultural understanding. Not only does this student demonstrate a deep understanding of and passion for the language, but this student also goes above and beyond in the pursuit of language proficiency both in and out of the classroom. 

The Dr. K.M. Shah Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Math and Science is awarded annually to the top students from the freshmen and sophomore classes in mathematics and science. 

Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization that provides K-12 curricula in the fields of biomedical science, engineering and computer science. NSA offers two Project Lead the Way biomedical science courses in the Upper School. These courses are designed to prepare interested students for careers in the biomedical science field and to use their science education to solve real-world problems, all while developing transportable skills like teamwork, critical thinking and grit.

The Good Citizenship Award recognizes those students who, through their character and daily actions, most closely reflect our motto “Honor Above All.” These students improve the culture of our school by being a part of our community. The recipients are kind, helpful, make good choices and do the right thing even when no one is watching. Recipients are selected by their peers to receive the Good Citizenship Award.

The Nansemond Charitable Foundation supports organizations involved in arts and culture, higher education and human services. The foundation awards scholarships to senior students who embody high character and integrity.

The Suffolk Rotary Community Scholarship is awarded to a senior male and female student who demonstrate the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” Selected students are involved in service activities at school and in the community, and they maintain a high academic average through high school.

The Barton Ford All-American Scholarship is awarded to give students incentive to further their formal education. This scholarship recognizes students who have excelled in student leadership in school and in the community. The scholarship recipient displays academic strength, leadership skills, poise and confidence.

The Shirley C. Eley Educational Scholarship is awarded on a rotational schedule each year to a local graduating senior pursuing a business or professional degree. Members of the Pilot Club of Suffolk supply the funds for the scholarship. The recipient is selected based on the student's academic achievement, extracurricular activities and future plans.

The Matthew J. Shiembob, Jr. Class of 2016 Scholarship for Excellence in Athletics is awarded annually to the rising senior boy or girl who has shown enthusiasm for athletics as a student at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Established by his family in 2018, the scholarship celebrates Matthew’s love of the game - particularly basketball. The fund will provide an annual scholarship to a rising senior boy or girl who shares a love for athletics at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy.

The Trip Hobbs Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising senior who writes a winning poem in the spirit of W.B. Yeats. This scholarship was established in 2019 by the Hawks family to honor the late Trip Hobbs III, who taught English, sponsored the school literary magazine, “The Spectrum,” and coached at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy from 1979 to 1998.

The David G. Monette Scholarship for the Arts was established in memory of David Goodrich Monette, former trustee and NSA chairman of the Board, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy patron, benefactor and parent of NSA alumni Noelle Chapman Monette, Class of 1983, and Colin Thomas Monette, Class of 1991. He founded the NSA annual Art Show and Sale in 1986, as his vision was to make the community aware of not only NSA, but also of the importance of art on NSA's educational process. This effort has led to helping numerous arts programs being financially supported at NSA.

The Ann S. Powell and Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Story, Jr. Scholarship Fund for Excellence in U.S. History or American Studies was originally established by Ann Story Powell to honor her father, Walter Franklin Story, Jr. Mr. Story was a local businessman and a longtime NSA benefactor. Beginning in 1979, Mrs. Powell was a U.S. History, American Studies and Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher at NSA. She also served as the history department chair. In the late 1980s, Mrs. Powell assumed the role of director of college counseling at NSA. While she remained in that role until her death in 2005, U.S. History and American Studies remained one of her passions. Mrs. Powell authored two children’s books, “Anna Mary of Riddick’s Folly” and “Mills E. Riddick - An Adventure in the Dismal Swamp,” to encourage children to enjoy history. Mrs. Powell’s two children (Jennie and Cutchin) are graduates of NSA, and in 2006, they requested that the scholarship be renamed to honor both their grandparents and mother.

Established in 2019 by a former NSA faculty member, the Saints Spirit Endowment creates a scholarship to recognize students of strong character who have demonstrated interest and outstanding achievement in the areas of academics, leadership and community engagement. The recipient of the Saints Spirit Scholarship should be engaged in personal growth, inspired to discover their passion and empowered to make a difference in the world. 

The Anne Bagnell Jones Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement is awarded annually to the rising senior girl who best exemplifies the characteristics that are embodied in the goals of the Academy. The student must be a well-informed, responsible and compassionate human being who has demonstrated outstanding development and achievement academically, physically, emotionally, socially, morally and creatively. Mrs. Jones’ family, in honor of her four grandchildren, established the Anne Bagnell Jones Scholarship in 1994. Anne Cox, Molly, Betsy and Eddie Bagnell graduated from NSA from 1988 to 1996. The first recipient of the scholarship was a member of the class of 1997.

The Rollins Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement is awarded annually to the rising senior boy who best exemplifies the characteristics that are embodied in the goals of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. The student must be a well-informed, responsible and compassionate human being who has demonstrated outstanding development and achievement academically, physically, emotionally, socially, morally and creatively. Dr. and Mrs. Dixon M. Rollins and Mr. Robert P. Rollins established the Rollins scholarship in 1993 in honor of Eric, Dixon and David Rollins, who graduated from NSA from 1989 to1994. The first recipient of the scholarship was a member of the Class of 1995.

Students earn the privilege of serving as an usher for the graduation ceremony based on their continued academic excellence, placing them among the top of their class. Based on their exceptional academic performance, the top students in the class serve as graduation marshals.