Tandem Senior Honored with Emily Couric Leadership Forum Scholarship

We’re so proud of Tandem Friends senior Mia Peifer, this year's Tandem Friends School finalist for The Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship Award, who was awarded an $18,000 scholarship from The Emily Couric Leadership Forum. The eleven local leadership award finalists (one from each local high school) were honored in person on April 24 at the annual awards luncheon. Tandem teachers Peter Gaines, Nate Adkins, and Carolyn Warhaftig attended the luncheon along with Mia and her parents.

Mia joined Tandem in 6th grade and has been a constant leader who is passionate about helping people find their confidence. Mia has served as Student Senate Vice President, presented a powerful Speaker Series about body image to the Upper School, founded the Post It Positive Club (posting positive notes of encouragement around the camps), and was winner of the Amy Strand Award at Tandem, given to a junior who embodies kindness and caring in all they do. Mia has been a powerful athletic force and natural leader on the soccer team and the cross country team. For her Senior Project, she trained her dog to be a Therapy Animal. She will be attending Haverford College and will play on their soccer team. Congratulations, Mia!

Check out a video shared by The Emily Couric Leadership Forum featuring Mia here. Learn more about each nominee here. 

The Emily Couric Leadership Forum "established the Emily Couric Leadership Scholarship to be awarded annually to a senior girl attending any high school in Charlottesville or Albemarle. The goal is to acknowledge and encourage young women in leadership roles in government and the community. Each school is asked to nominate a senior girl who demonstrates leadership in her school and the community. A selection committee comprised of community leaders interviews the nominees and makes the final selection."

The Emily Couric Leadership Forum itself honors the memory of State Senator Emily Couric, who modeled a strong commitment to learning and service. Her many contributions to the community encouraged all women to "adopt an active role in government, public issues, and policy debates affecting their communities, and to inspire young women to pursue activities which will enable them to become effective leaders." The group has awarded over $1.5M to young women since the scholarships began in 2001, and awarded $250,000 for this 2023 year.