LAILA SERPE AND DISTINGUISHED MERIT SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED

Cape Henry Collegiate’s Upper School is proud to welcome an outstanding group of rising 9th graders named this year’s Laila Serpe Scholars and Distinguished Merit Scholars.

Vikram Goudar and Soham Pattnaik of Old Donation School will join Cape Henry Collegiate later this month with the distinction of Laila Serpe Scholars.

Vikram is also a recipient of a Caroline D. Bradley scholarship, awarded to just 30 students across the United States to fund tuition at any high school or individual program in the country. As an eighth grader, Vikram had already checked off most Upper School mathematics requirements, including AP Calculus BC. He explores his passion for music by volunteering to play piano at Sentara Leigh Hospital, and once joined the Virginia Symphony Orchestra as a guest composer and performer.

Soham is a two-time recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his more than 200 hours of community service for the Central Library’s Teen Advisory Group and other local organizations. He is also on the American Mathematics Competition’s honor roll, and advanced to 6th place at the National Middle School Chess Championships. Soham’s love of art and stargazing came together when NASA selected one of Soham’s artworks to display on its official website.

“We’re excited to welcome Vikram and Soham to Cape Henry to grow as scholars and individuals,” said Head of School Dr. Chris Garran. “Academically, Vikram and Soham are as impressive as it gets, but they are also good people. Each impressed us with their commitment to community, a top priority at Cape Henry.”

As part of the Distinguished Merit Scholars Program, additional scholarships were awarded to Cape Henry’s Devin Rai, Caroline Kenison, Nikoloz Kutelia, Matthew Todl, Dylan Lewis and Matthew McGuigan, as well as Ethan Jenkins and Sam Sachs of Old Donation School.

“What stood out was not just their really impressive academic credentials, it was everything else they’ve done –volunteerism, community service, they had it all,” said Mr. Bryan Rudolph, an Upper School teacher who served on the selection committee. “I urge them to continue to take advantage of everything Cape Henry offers, because that’s unique about our School.”

Each year, Cape Henry’s Laila Serpe Scholars and Distinguished Merit Scholars programs offer academic scholarships to a limited number of rising 9th grade students who are outstanding leaders and scholars. Scholarships last for the tenure of the student's enrollment in Upper School, provided the student continues to display distinguished levels of commitment and achievement.

The distinguished scholars program is named for Laila Serpe, a brilliant Cape Henry student who passed away at the age of 12 in 2009. Laila exemplified the qualities of a community-minded scholar who took advantage of each opportunity that she encountered.