6 Virginia Students Making The Commonwealth Proud

Virginia is full of bright, driven young people making a difference in and out of the classroom. That’s why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to spotlight students excelling in academics, athletics and community service.

Check out six exceptional Virginia students making a big impact. And if you know a student who deserves a shoutout, we want to hear about them! Click here to nominate them for a chance to be featured as a Star Student on Patch!

Alia Durrani (Fredericksburg): The 11th-grader at James Monroe High School said it's important for people her age to help others. "I think that it will not just better us as a person, but better our community.” Durrani is involved in school organizations, including being a DECA officer, UNICEF officer, and a member of the Principal's Advisory Committee. Since her freshman year in high school, she has also been working on a project to collect books for an educational initiative in Afghanistan. “I'm a big advocate for change, and I love seeing a difference in my community and just helping people in general,” she said. Read more here.

Sai Gaddabathini (Vienna): At Kilmer Middle School in Vienna, students are actively trying to get write-ups. That's because these "write-ups" reward students for acts of kindness, simple things that make a difference for someone else during the school day. "I helped someone with their laptop because it wasn’t functioning," seventh-grader Sai Gaddabathini said via the Fairfax County Public Schools blog. "I had to restart it and do something with it." Another classmate, Mohammed Mansour, was recognized by a teacher for helping another student with a question in English class. Read more here.

Moran Stiller (Fairfax City): When Robinson Secondary senior Moran Stiller first joined RAMbassadors as a ninth-grader, she was looking for a way to be more involved in her school. "I loved talking to kids during lunch, and I loved making new friends with them. It gives me a purpose to be there for others and make sure other people have their community. They will always have a place at Robinson." Initially, RAMbassadors focused on helping new students from military families navigate an unfamiliar school. In 2025, the program has expanded to help more than 215 students make connections within the Robinson community. Read more here.

Luciana Lara (Fredericksburg): Luciana, a third-grade student at Lafayette Elementary School in Fredericksburg, was given the Lion Pride Award at her school, having been nominated by her teacher for exemplifying the school’s core values. The future elementary school teacher said her role models are: “My mom, my teacher Mrs. Jacobs and Taylor Swift. They all inspire me to do my best and that girls rule!” Read more here.

Abhinav Maddala (Vienna): James Madison High School student Abhinav Maddala had noticed classmates, like himself, were struggling with economics. He felt like traditional studying resources were "outdated and unengaging," so Maddala decided to create an app called Quizonomics. "Economics is a subject that requires both critical thinking and a strong understanding of theories, and I wanted to create a resource that could bridge the gap between classroom lectures and student comprehension," Maddala told Patch. "I realized that interactive, accessible, and customizable resources like practice quizzes could really help students test their knowledge and better retain key concepts." Read more here.

Logan Georgelas (Vienna): A group of Madison High School students gained national attention for their selfless deed to raise funds for their school janitor's dream car. The students surprised Madison High School custodian Francis Apraku, an immigrant from Ghana, with a red Jeep Wrangler in the back parking lot of the Vienna Inn in September 2024. That's after a fundraiser started in May 2024 generated more than $20,000 in donations. Logan Georgelas, one of the students organizing the fundraiser, recalled of Apraku: "His warmth and welcoming spirit made a significant impact on us." Read more here.

These exceptional students are just a glimpse of the incredible talent in Virginia. The future is certainly looking bright! If you know a Star Student making an impact in your community, nominate them today to be featured on Patch!