Richmond Forum Scholars
The Scholar Program
Each year, five of the Richmond region’s highest achieving and most impressive high school juniors are selected to work behind the scenes at America’s largest nonprofit speakers series as Richmond Forum Scholars. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that showcases the best students in our region.
Applications for the 2024 – 2025 class of Richmond Forum Scholars are now open. All materials are due by May 20. Details below.
Engage With Prominent Leaders
As a Richmond Forum Scholar, you will interact directly with the Forum’s visiting speakers. Past speakers have included Barack Obama, Tina Fey, Russell Wilson, and many more. You will also meet and network with prominent local leaders in business, education, the arts, technology, and politics.
You will staff VIP speaker receptions, serve as a greeter and check in sponsor guests, escort speakers and other event personnel, act as a runner when required by staff, and complete other assignments, as needed, to support each program.
Build Leadership & Facilitation Skills
Scholars are the facilitators of the Forum’s Student Room in the Altria Theater. You will introduce the speaker, moderate a Q&A, and provide on-screen remarks to the audience in the main theater and online.
Application Requirements
- Be a high school junior attending a public or independent school located in the Richmond region (Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, City of Richmond).
- Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Commit to attend an orientation session and to serve for the entire evening at all five Richmond Forum programs.
- Submit a completed Richmond Forum Scholar application packet, including the application, a résumé, a letter of recommendation, and a video essay.
Apply to the 2024 – 2025 class
Applications for the 2024 – 2025 class of Richmond Forum Scholars are now open. All materials are due by May 20.
To be considered, applicants must complete all the following steps and submit files to scholars@richmondforum.org by 11:59 p.m. on May 20.
- The application (Google Form)
- Your current résumé
- A 2 – 2 ½ minute video message detailing your specific interest in one of the upcoming program topics or speakers shared via Google Drive or Dropbox
- One confidential letter of recommendation from one of your high school teachers or coaches who knows you well. This letter should address your academic proficiency, leadership ability, communication skills, and extracurricular activities. The teacher should submit the letter directly to The Forum.
- Parent/guardian signed transportation waiver and media release
“The best thing about The Richmond Forum is that it gives people of all ages the chance to learn for the sake of learning … With every night at The Forum, I’ve grown more appreciative and encouraged by humanity. I am inspired by the incredible efforts The Forum and its partners invest in future generations through its many student programs.”
Morgan Rhudy, 2018 – 2019 Scholar
Past Scholars
2023 – 2024
Eathan Ligon, Manchester High School
Marie Lofty, Open High School
Carter Nohl, Glen Allen High School
Maya Shuman, Cosby High School
Jai Spicer, Collegiate School
2022 – 2023
Nina Argel, Monacan High School
Jada Oakcrum, Hanover High School
Lily Waehner, James River High School
Cameron Walker, Trinity Episcopal School
Tahlia Wright, Highland Springs High School
2021 – 2022
Irma Adams, Hanover High School
Kiran Sabharwal, Douglas Freeman High School
Kishanti Barmoh, Highland Springs High School
Layal El-Ayoubi, Trinity Episcopal School
Mikal Banks, The Steward School
2020 – 2021
Abhay Duggirala, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Eshan Vishwakarma, J.R. Tucker High School
Joseph Chambers, Douglas Freeman High School
Maddy Boger, James River High School
Sai Chebrolu, Henrico High School
2019 – 2020
Amal Ali, Mills E. Godwin High School
Ryan Henry, J.R. Tucker High School
Quin Smith, Patrick Henry High School
Drew Thompson, The Steward School
Andrew Van De Putte, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
“Interacting with high-profile people, such as Alan Alda and Robert Mueller, greatly increased my sense of professionalism and my confidence in speaking to others, and has also made me more conscientious about checking the news and being an informed citizen.”
– ZOe Nelson, 2014 – 2015 Scholar
2018 – 2019
Nawal Abbasi, St. Catherine’s School
Brandon Brown, Atlee High School
Cameron Jarvandi, The Steward School
Morgan Rhudy, James River High School
Sonali Sanjay, The Steward School
2017 – 2018
Carlos M. Brown Jr., Henrico High School
William Chambers, Douglas S. Freeman High School
Lawrence Jia, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Tolliver Mance, Trinity Episcopal School
Yashodhara Varma, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
2016 – 2017
Iram Amir, The Steward School
Morgan Canaan, Douglas S. Freeman High School
Pablo Gómez García, James River High School
Julia Gibson, Douglas S. Freeman High School
Fuller Wise, St. Christopher’s School
2015 – 2016
Peyton Badura, James River High School
Frederick Hayton, James River High School
Nadine Lin, Douglas S. Freeman High School
Matty Pahren, Collegiate School
Dharaa Rathi, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
2014 – 2015
McKenna Brady, James River High School
Logan Brown, J.R. Tucker High School
Dylan Lackey, James River High School
Zoe Nelson, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
Reshini Premaratne, Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School
2013 – 2014
Owen Ayers, Trinity Episcopal School
Elise Fuller, St. Catherine’s School
Syeda Haider, Thomas Jefferson High School
Nikhith Kalkunte, Midlothian High School
Benjamin Moore, St. Christopher’s School