Charlotte McAfee
The Lucketts Ruritan Club awarded $3,500.00 to Charlotte McAfee toward her studies at Penn State University in State College, PA, where she will study pre-law and political science. Charlotte graduated from Tuscarora High School with a GPA of 3.74, excelling in AP classes in U.S. government, biology, and psychology. In addition to her leadership and community engagement activities, she was inducted into the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society in recognition of her academic achievements.
Charlotte’s interest in law was a direct result of being one of two rising Tuscarora seniors selected to participate in the prestigious Thomas D. Horne Leadership in the Law Program. This unique program enables the students to work with local judges, lawyers, law clerks, and other professionals to learn about the law. Charlotte was instructed in courtroom procedures; crime scene investigation; evidence handling, preservation, and analysis; interviewing techniques with witnesses and experts; exhibits development; and trial preparation. To bring the material to life, the end of the program culminated in a mock trial, with Judge Horne presiding. Charlotte applied what she learned and served as the prosecutor who won her case!
If you ask Charlotte, she will tell you that participation in sports, including basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey, has shaped her work ethic throughout her high school career. Basketball was her favorite sport, and her team made it to Regionals in 2019 with Charlotte as one of the tallest forwards on the team. Although they lost by four points, the team left the floor knowing that they had played well and had a fantastic experience.
Supporting people with disabilities has been an integral part of Charlotte’s community service activities that make her so deserving of recognition and this scholarship. She was a member of the Key Club and Huskie Buddies. As a mentor in the Huskie Buddies program, she developed strong relationships with underclassmen with special needs—giving them the extra attention that often provides reassurance that they are part of a larger student community. Further, since the age of 12, Charlotte has been involved in numerous therapeutic horseback riding centers in Loudoun County. Over time and through working in this area, she focused specifically on volunteering at the Loudoun Therapeutic Riding Foundation summer camps. She was the art/crafts director for both able-bodied and non-able bodied children who attended the camps. These experiences and her participation in the Thomas D. Horne Leadership in the Law Program solidified Charlotte’s choice to major in pre-law at Penn State. When she graduates, Charlotte intends to become an advocate for children and adults with disabilities—to provide a voice for those who are underserved.
The Lucketts Ruritan Club could not be prouder to support Charlotte in this next phase of her life and wishes her the best of luck in her studies.
