Jefferson Scholars Press Release

CONTACT:
James H. Wright, President
Jefferson Scholars Foundation
jeffsch@virginia.edu
434-243-9029

Area Student Among New Class of Jefferson Scholars at the University of Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, July 13, 2010 – Kelsey Jean Petrie of Seekonk, Massachusetts, is one of 27 students to earn the prestigious Jefferson Scholarship for study at the University of Virginia beginning this fall.

Kelsey is the daughter of Mary Jane Andreozzi of Seekonk and Daniel Petrie of North Kingstown, Rhode Island. An accomplished student who has excelled in all areas of Bay View Academy’s curriculum, Kelsey received a first place award in the short fiction category from the Rhode Island Council of Teachers of English. In addition to numerous Certificates of Excellence from her school, she has also received the Regis College Book Award and the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award from Rochester University. Kelsey has received awards and honors for her environmental science fair projects from Earth Day Rhode Island, the Navy, the Air Force, and from the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair.

In tandem with her environmental interests, Kelsey is the founder and president of the school’s Environmental Club (H.O.P.E. : Help Our Planet Earth). She recruited other interested students, organized events, educated the community, and wrote a ten year “green” plan for Bay View Academy. Kelsey is also the co-founder of Greenlight Rhode Island, a teen-run organization that distributes energy efficient light bulbs to low-income families. This spring Kelsey began an internship with Dr. David Murray of the Environmental Studies and Geology Departments at Brown University to assist in his research of nitrogen, carbon, and mercury levels in the Narragansett Bay sediments.

A true Renaissance woman, Kelsey is also a volunteer, an athlete, and an artist. A member of the Mercy Action Club, Kelsey has become involved with her community by volunteering at a transitional home for single mothers and their children, teaching and playing with them. As a member of the Ambassador Club, Kelsey assists in recruitment efforts for Bay View Academy. Nominated for the Scholar Athlete Games, she participates in field hockey and indoor and outdoor track. Kelsey also teaches art to private clients using a variety of media such as pencil, paint, pastel, and sculpture, and is the recipient of several art awards.

Based on her outstanding achievements and leadership potential, Kelsey received a Time Magazine and Bentley College Tomorrow 25 International Leadership Award and attended the 2009 Bentley Leadership Forum. She was also the 2009 recipient of the Emerging Leader Award given by Leadership Rhode Island for her success as a leader.

Jefferson Scholarships are awarded by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation solely on the basis of merit. Recipients receive stipends to cover the complete cost of attending the University for four years, including tuition, room and board, books and other University-related expenses, as well as leadership training programs and foreign travel/study. Over four years a Jefferson Scholarship provides approximately $90,000 for an in-state student and more than $180,000 to an out-of-state student.

The criteria for selection are demonstrated excellence and exceptional potential in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. The 27 Jefferson Scholarship winners were named after a rigorous selection process that began with over 1200 nominees from across the nation as well as international candidates. The list was pared to 101 finalists who participated in the Jefferson Scholars Selection Weekend March 24-28, from which the 27 recipients emerged.

The group of 27 includes students from 13 different states and 3 foreign countries. The recipients are a diverse group of varsity athletes, team captains, student government officers, musicians, and thespians. Several have done independent science research, many are involved with debate, and all are involved with service to school and community. The average combined SAT score for the incoming class of Jefferson Scholars is 2260; this average includes 26 perfect scores of 800 on at least one portion of the exam and 9 perfect scores of 800 on SAT II subject tests. In addition, the group has already amassed a grand total of 74 5’s on AP exams, not including the tests they will take this May as seniors.

"This year the quality of the nominees was again truly exceptional, for which we offer our gratitude to the hundreds of school counselors who nominate these outstanding young people," said James H. Wright, president of the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. "Those selected are all devoted to the pursuit of excellence as reflected in their rich diversity of interests and backgrounds, and have the potential to benefit the University in a most substantial way."

"Likewise we offer thanks to the nearly 700 alumni volunteers across the country who helped select the candidates. Time and again we hear from nominees that the passion for the University of Virginia shown by these alumni volunteers leaves a very positive impression about the University, regardless of the final results of the competition," Wright added.

Dating back to the beginning of the Jefferson Scholars program in 1980, over 5,750 Jefferson Scholarship nominees have elected to attend the University without having received the Jefferson Scholarship. Over the last five years, Jefferson Scholarship nominees have comprised approximately nine percent of each entering class.

Jefferson Scholarships are designed to help the University attract the most promising student leaders in the country. Students may not apply to become Jefferson Scholars, but rather must either be nominated by their schools or identified through the admissions process. More than 3000 schools are eligible to make nominations annually, including every secondary school in Virginia.