Scholarship Recipients

Meet our scholarship winners! Scroll through the images and stories below to learn more about our scholarship recipients. Be sure to keep an eye out for applications opening in the Spring - one of these pictures could be of you!

Vincent T. Vaccaro Scholarship

The recipient of the Vincent T. Vaccaro Education Scholarship has been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $6,000 to a person seeking to serve the youth of the Church or to assist in the education of youth.

Hello! My name is Anna Bohli and I am from Fairfax, VA. For four years, I was heavily influenced in my faith life by my Religion and Ethics teachers at St. John Paul the Great High School. I knew that when I graduated, I wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a Religion teacher where I could help future students cultivate a faith life that reaches beyond the classroom, and to make Jesus a desire in all parts of their lives. I also have a love for playing soccer and wanted to continue to play soccer at the collegiate level. My goal was to find a college with a strong Catholic Theology program and also an excellent soccer program focused on forming successful athletes and strong women of faith. I found this unique combination at Ave Maria University. Receiving the Vincent T. Vaccaro Scholarship from the Associates of St. John Bosco made it possible for me to follow this dream! I am honored to be the recipient of a scholarship named after such a faith-filled man. I am excited to continue my studies, play soccer with a great group of other women, and return to the Diocese of Arlington to be a Catholic school religion teacher!

General Scholarship

The recipients of the General Scholarships have each been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $4,000.

Hi! My name is Liz D'Souza and I am from Springfield, VA. I am attending Franciscan University of Steubenville, majoring in Theology and minoring in Youth Ministry. I want to be either a youth minister or a religion teacher in Catholic school. I am so blessed to have been able to have amazing religion teachers all four years of high school as well as my youth ministers at my parish, Holy Spirit. I knew that I wanted to follow their example and lead future students and youth in their faith journey. I want to help foster their love for Christ as well as for their faith, which can be difficult in today's society, especially during adolescence. I am so incredibly thankful to ASJB for receiving this scholarship so that I can be given the opportunity to be able to give back to my community through educating the youth and helping them grow in faith, hope, and love!

Hello! My name is Luke Hurley. I am from Potomac Falls, VA, and  just starting my freshman year at Franciscan University. I would like to thank ASJB for this generous scholarship! I am a committed Catholic, recognizing that I owe everything, including my life, to Christ and His Church. I recognize the importance of being an active Catholic as Jesus does not want us to be passive, indifferent Catholics. He calls us to be on fire with the Faith, to love both God and neighbor, and to provide witness and testimony to all. For this reason, I have been taught the necessity of offering my “time, talent, and treasure.” Throughout my highschool years, I was able to participate with wonderful opportunities in our Diocese to provide witness through service to and interactions with others. I plan to serve our church, Franciscan University, and the local community by serving at mass, volunteering at youth conferences, participating and leading small groups, and identifying college service organizations as well as mission trip opportunities to spread the gospel through testimony and example. I also pray that I do not overlook the small opportunities for service, witness, and growth. For example, recognizing and providing an empathetic shoulder to support a teammate or fellow student. My goal in starting college is to bring the Catholic faith to others, ‘making disciples of all nations’, and serving the church as a very active Catholic. My goal is to answer Christ’s call. Saint John Bosco, pray for us!

My name is Audrey Lebahn and I am from Fairfax, VA. I am a first year student at Christendom College in Front Royal, VA, planning to major in English Language and Literature. I was homeschooled from first grade on and was blessed with a classical, Catholic education. Because all my classes were centered on Christ, not just my catechism class, I have come to understand the importance of an education rooted in the Catholic faith. My goal after college is to teach and to help future generations develop a love of Christ and His Church. The Associates of St. John Bosco has played an integral role in helping me reach this next step toward my goal. I would like to sincerely thank the ASJB for selecting me as a recipient of this scholarship, and admire the organization for setting out to restore all things in Christ, starting with college culture.