Will Anderson

Will Anderson found his own way through 9th Grade when the pandemic changed everything about the daily rituals of life, especially schooling. He was one of the students that opted for Hybrid learning. “During that experience, very little learning went on, but it forced me to be more organized, specifically with my electronic files; a skill I still use to this day.” Despite this, Will participated in a consistent set of extracurriculars.

Will was a member of Tuscarora Orchestra and Tuscarora Performing Arts during all four years of high school. Although he dabbled in acting, most of his time onstage was as the principal bassist of the Tuscarora Orchestra. When it came to Performing Arts – Will joined in 9th grade as a part of the small construction crew. By the end of high school, Will had experience with almost all aspects of the department, but enjoyed design, construction, and leadership the most. “I really enjoyed the theater’s student-led nature.” He even attended George C. Marshall Center’s Ethical Leadership program to refine his leadership abilities for theater. Teamwork and leadership were both skills that he increased year-over-year. By his junior year, he was the Technical Director and led the construction of his own set designs. He won the Best Set Cappie for Lord of the Flies the same year. In addition to committing significant time and energy into his academics and extracurriculars, Will knew that community service was a necessary part of the high school experience.

Will discovered the Claude Moore Community Builders program during 10th grade and continued his volunteerism through them until senior year. “It is a very selective program with only 40 students accepted each June-March cycle.” The program provides volunteer opportunities by matching builders with local non-profit organizations. The program also holds leadership trainings and group service opportunities. The program is structured so that builders can reach the goal of volunteering 100+ hours. Will achieved this goal three times, earning him three President’s Volunteer Service Awards. Will was matched with the local Special Olympics organization where he dedicated many hours to their Bowling program.

Thriving on practical problem solving has inspired Will to pursue architecture as a career. Problem solving was nothing new to him, as he enjoyed participating in Futura during elementary school and Spectrum at Smart’s Mill. “These classes incorporated advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and they were fun.” In addition, Will spent many hours under the hoods of cars at home with his dad, learning how to diagnose and fix engines and other mechanical problems. His positive experiences with both problem solving and design in Theater further motivated him to pursue a career in architecture. He attended the Penn State Architecture and Landscape Architecture Summer Camp the summer before his junior year. “My goal is to become an architect and make positive change in the world through meaningful architectural designs. In addition, I hope to complete a minor in a complementary field as well as study abroad. I would like to learn about how culture is reflected in architecture so I can use this knowledge to inform design for positive impact.”

Will was accepted at many nationally recognized architecture programs, but the decision for him came down to: Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia. “Deciding was a tough choice, but I ultimately decided that I will be studying architecture at the University of Virginia in the Fall.” Will is a “renaissance man” in his own right, and with his amazing resume, we know he will be comfortable in the shadow of Thomas Jefferson. Congratulations Will, and we look forward to hearing about your future successes!