The Family of Man Council 7566 of the Knights of Columbus in Reston awarded $1,000 scholarships to three students: Leo Weeks, Catherine Claman and Luke Lodge.
The council awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors and college students to help with the costs of higher education. Applicants for the scholarship submitted an essay demonstrating their strength of character and articulating their desire and motivation for obtaining higher education. Their essay included examples of their Christian life and devotion to Jesus. Applicants needed to be practicing Catholics with family members who attend St. John Neumann Church in Reston.
Claman graduated from South Lakes High School in Reston in 2021. She attended Northern Virginia Community College for her first semester of college before starting her spring semester at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. She is a biology major pursuing veterinary medicine.
“I believe God has always wanted me to make an impact in the world by helping others, and I felt that calling since I was a young girl handing out Tootsie Rolls in exchange for charitable donations with the Knights of Columbus,” said Claman. “I believe I can use my love of animals and the knowledge I will acquire in school to help take care of the animals that are protecting our country, which will be what I can give back to God for Him giving me such a fortunate and blessed life.”
Lodge is a 2022 graduate of Oakton High School. He plans to study building construction science and management at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
“I expanded my faith community and grew as a strong Catholic through attending youth pastoral council activities and joining Workcamps,” said Lodge. “Through the Arlington diocese WorkCamp, I had the opportunity to build stairs and benches and provide landscaping to the surrounding areas of SJN. From that year forward, I’ve continued to participate in WorkCamp. In my junior year, our project was building a new deck for a resident. The defining moment for me was when the resident took her young children out to the deck, and I saw their faces full of joy. As a result of finding my calling of service, I’ll be studying architecture.”
Weeks graduated from Oakton High School in Vienna and is a member of the National Honor Society. He is an Eagle Scout, Third Degree Knight and a regular volunteer at St. John Neumann charity breakfasts.
“My purpose in life is to give others hope,” said Weeks. “I want to show my community, my country and maybe the world that people with Down Syndrome are valuable members of society. I want to encourage more people with Down Syndrome to join Scouting and Knights of Columbus and to serve others.”
