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, all students who were selected placed in the top 20 for their vocal part. Joshua Simpson '26 tied for the number one ranking for the Bass 1s in the High School Mixed Chorus, and Raquel Vázquez '27 placed fifth for Soprano 1s in the High School Treble Chorus.

All-District Chorus students are invited to audition for All-State Chorus. If selected, students have the opportunity to perform with Virginia's top vocalists. This year, more than 160 students from our district auditioned. Joshua Simpson '26 and Raquel Vázquez '27 were both selected, with Josh placing first in the district among Bass 1s and Raquel ranking second in the district among Soprano 1s.

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 unique strengths 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 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 demonstrate excellence and service in and out of the classroom. The award recognizes individuals who embody stellar classroom performance and 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 prepared women to be productive, responsible members of a world community since 1906, focusing on personal and professional achievement through a customized education in an intense, supportive environment empowering 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 and to those who are independently minded, community-drive, 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 NSA faculty 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.

In an effort to promote interest in chemistry among young women, Iota Sigma Pi offers the Outstanding Young Women in Chemistry Award for female high school students with high academic achievement in chemistry. Students nominated must be graduating seniors with a 3.8 GPA or higher and have taken at least one high school chemistry course.

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 to become effective, ethical leaders in their homes, schools and communities. 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 because they demonstrate 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 their 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 National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, also known as the PSAT. Each of the recognized students is among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants out of more than 1.5 million program entrants.

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, it symbolizes our commitment to discovery, analytical thought and process. 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 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 Continental Math League Contest is a national calculus competition. Each of the competitions consist of several rounds of questions designed to maximize student opportunities to participate, improve problem-solving capabilities and challenge the students at their current ability level.

The American Mathematics Contests 10 and 12 are national contests that aim to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of friendly competition in problem-solving in a timed format. Students who finish in the top 3% nationally are invited to take the next level, the American Invitational Mathematics Examination.

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 Math and Science Award is awarded annually to the top students from the freshman 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 Saints Endowment Council (SEC) is a student-run group that invests fundraised and donated monies into equity markets. The council has monthly meetings run by the student executives. During these meetings, student leaders report on the progress of investments and make recommendations for future investments and activities. Beyond the meetings, students will grow in financial literacy through presentations made by outside professionals and trips to visit areas of interest. The vision of the SEC is to teach fundamental financial literacy through active participation by its members. This real-life experience enhances the group, school and surrounding community. As a part of NSA's school mission, the council will allocate a portion of the annual profits to school programs and needs.

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 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. Mr. Monette was a former trustee and NSA chairman of the board, as well as an NSA patron, benefactor and parent. His children are Noelle Chapman Monette '83 and Colin Thomas Monette '91. Mr. Monette founded the NSA annual Art Show and Sale in 1986, as his vision was to make the community aware of not only NSA, but the importance of art in 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 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 fund 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 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 scholarship is given annually to a rising senior boy or girl who embodies the spirit of NSA. The individual is active in school and community activities and portrays both strong leadership characteristics and academic achievement.

The Robert Craig Woods '83 Scholarship at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy was established in July 2024 by his family and friends. The Robert Craig Woods '83 Scholarship honors Rob's memory, as well as his dedication to education and devotion to NSA. This scholarship recognizes a qualified, charismatic rising senior who shows an enthusiasm for academics with a GPA of 3.0 or greater, who shares a love for the NSA community, and who embraces the Saints experience at NSA.

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 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. 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 embodied in Nansemond-Suffolk Academy's goals. 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.