Some of central Virginia's best and brightest were honored Tuesday at a luncheon at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville.
The Emily Couric Leadership Forum is recognizing ten young women for a commitment to hard work and leadership. This year, the Forum is awarding a record $71,000 in scholarships to student leaders.
The big recipient Tuesday was Jessie Press-Williams. The senior from Charlottesville High School has already racked up some impressive achievements. She is president of her school's debate team, winner of a coveted state-department summer scholarship and now she has another one to add to the list.
She was honored Tuesday afternoon with the 12th Annual Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship, amounting to a whopping $30,000. That is the most ever given for that specific award.
Press-Williams says she is most passionate about science, and plans to study science and engineering.
Journalist Maureen Orth is the recipient of the Emily Couric Women's Leadership Award. Orth received the award for her work in her professional and community life but she says her work pales in comparison to what these women will one day accomplish.
Orth said, "I'm humbled in front of these young women, I mean my God, I was a cheerleader in high school, I could never have competed with them." Orth said, "I'm very very proud to have been able to do something that might help them along the way understand what life is for them."
Nine other finalists from other schools in the area each received $4,000 in scholarship funds.
