Local schools have got less than one month left to make their nominations for the Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship. Unlike other scholarships, this one, open to girls from 11 Charlottesville and Albemarle area high schools, doesn’t award young women who keep their noses in the books—it awards women who get up and do.
Named for two-term Virginia State Senator Emily Couric, who had an esteemed public service career before she died of pancreatic cancer at age 54, the scholarship gives $10,000 to one female high school senior, and 10 $1,000 scholarships to the runners-up, for college or another approved endeavor.
 In honor of Emily Couric, a two term State senator who died of pancreatic cancer, a leadership scholarship annually helps with college financing for local public-service-minded high school girls. |
Anna-Marie Gulotta, the 2004 winner, started a voter registration group at Charlottesville High School.
“I guess that was my favorite part—a lot of awards are ‘Congratulations, you got seven A’s.’ I really appreciated that this recognized you for actually doing something, not just writing about something or getting good grades,” Gulotta says. “It was very satisfying to start the group and get something done, to do something that mattered.” Gulotta is currently finishing an honors degree in psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Criteria for the scholarship includes leadership skills like a sense of initiative, motivational effectiveness and an inclusive, team-building style—qualities that women need to rise to the top, but that aren’t always easy to maintain under high school pressures.
Gulotta says of her spiritedness, “You’re outspoken because you’re doing something to help other people.”
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum sponsors the scholarship and holds a luncheon each year where winners get to meet the organization’s “Woman of the Year.”
Past “Women of the Year” have included TV journalist Katie Couric (the Senator’s sister), U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, author and philanthropist Caroline Kennedy and Donna Brazile, the first African American to lead a presidential campaign. Gulotta got to meet 2004 Woman of the Year, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Leadership Scholarship nominees are selected by the principals of their high schools. The forum is seeking applications through March 1. Visit www.emilycouricleadershipforum.org for more.
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