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22 Court-Involved Teens Overcome Adversity to Earn Scholarships at Inspiring Banquet in Woodbridge

PWC Public Defender Grace Lemp hands Anjali Ghafoerkhan a glass award, symbolizing her scholarship award. [Photo: Alan Gloss]
The Beat the Odds Scholarship Banquet was held in Woodbridge on May 23, 2024. It marked the culmination of a competitive scholarship process for 22 court-involved teens.
Among the night's honorees was Anjali Ghafoerkhan, who expressed gratitude for the scholarship that would help her pursue higher education.

"I've needed a lot of support throughout my life," Ghafoerkhan shared, detailing the challenges of growing up with a mother diagnosed with type-2 bipolar disorder and a family history in the domestic relations court. Despite these difficulties, Anjali excelled academically and received offers from several prestigious universities, including Harvard, where she has committed to and will be attending in the fall.

The scholarships are for young scholars who have overcome legal and domestic relations challenges to achieve academic success. Some program members violated laws, while others were victims of abuse, neglect, trafficking, mental health, or substance abuse. Established in 2001 in Prince William County, the program mirrors a national initiative by the Children's Defense Fund to support young people involved in the juvenile justice system. Support for the program comes from the local Bar Foundation—the nonprofit arm of the Bar Association.

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