-By Svetla Tomanova

At the beginning of May, the annual Brickell Scholarship banquet was held at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center. The anticipation was evident as the accomplished students, distinguished guests, and family members gathered to celebrate talent and dedication.

The Brickell Scholarship is a collaborative effort of the Virginia Beach Rotary Club and the Virginia Beach Public Schools’ Office of Gifted Programs. It was established in 1990 in honor of Dr. Edward E. Brickell, the former VBCPS superintendent of 20 years. The nominees consist of the top two students from each of the 11 high schools and one from Green Run Collegiate.

These students are seniors who have a minimum 3.5 grade point average, who participate in academically advanced courses, achieve excellent scores on standardized tests, demonstrate school and community leadership, and service in academic and extracurricular pursuits.

“Our Brickell scholars are shining examples of what it means to be ’future ready’ and it’s an honor for me to be here tonight to recognize them,” said Superintendent Dr. Aaron Spence. “As the Roman poet, Virgil, said, ’They succeed because they think they can.’”

According to John Woolard, the 2010 Brickell Scholar winner and 2023 keynote speaker, the cornerstone of the Brickell program is the opportunity to engage other ideas, viewpoints and individuals.

“I stood in your shoes 13 years ago,” said Woolard. “I know to get to this place takes a lot of work, a lot of nights of studying and a lot of days of participating in class. The people in this room have unambiguously succeeded in high school. The Brickell Scholar program is a great reason for optimism.”

This program also celebrates students who excel not only in the classroom but are also contributing in meaningful ways in their schools, communities and service to others.

As the ceremony progressed, the banquet recognized the Class of 2023 finalists and the Class of 2023 winner, Vikram Kolli, as well as the 23 Class of 2024 junior scholars. One of those junior scholars will be selected as the Brickell scholarship winner next May. Each recipient had a unique story to share and dreams waiting to be realized.

“As we pursue our passions and follow our dreams, let’s never forget that we are the agents of change, the authors of our own endeavors,” said Vikram Kolli, the 2023 Brickell Scholarship winner. “By embracing our stories and telling our own tales, we can become catalysts for positive change. Let’s listen, empathize and build a more inclusive and compassionate society where diverse voices are valued and respected.”

Brickell Scholarship Winner: Vikram Kolli, International Baccalaureate program at Princess Anne High School

Vikram will be continuing his education at Harvard University where he plans to concentrate on history and literature with a secondary study in economics. He also will make sure to use his time in college to explore the vibrant community of Cambridge.

The other Class of 2023 finalists are:

• Devi Chirumamilla, Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School
• Keane Tao, the International Baccalaureate program at Princess Anne High School
• Ruoming Shen, Math and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School
• Victoria Vidal, Health Sciences Academy at Bayside High School