Henry Bearden '23 has been awarded one of the most highly selective merit scholarships in the nation. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia selected Henry as one of 38 recipients of the Jefferson Scholarship. He will commence his studies in the fall at UVA.

In order to be named a Scholar, candidates must undergo a rigorous, highly competitive, multi-stage selection process. First, they are nominated by their high schools or affiliated organizations based on their demonstrated excellence and exceptional potential in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Once nominated, the students go through at least one round of regional interviews. If selected as a regional finalist, students are then invited to participate in a final round of interviews. This year, over 2,300 students were nominated for the Scholarship, and 150 finalists were invited to take part in remote interviews conducted by UVA alumni and faculty. 

The 38 selected recipients of the 2023 Jefferson Scholarship boast a number of significant achievements, and Henry is no exception. During his time at The Steward School, Henry earned his Entrepreneurship endorsement on his diploma, was a member of the Head of School’s list for excellence in academics, and served as captain of the varsity soccer team and vice president of the senior class. During his senior year, he was named the Student-Athlete of the Year by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Foundation. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Top of the Class Award, the Science Department Award, and the Dixon Award, which is Steward’s highest honor and is awarded to one senior annually.

Henry will join a cohort of 158 Scholars currently funded by the Foundation at UVA, as well as a community of more than 933 Scholar alumni. In addition to receiving the full cost of attending the University for four years, Jefferson Scholars benefit from a number of enrichment programs sponsored by the Foundation, including travel abroad, career networking activities, and a leadership speaker series.