News Release: VSBA Board of Directors Northeastern Region Regional Scholarship Recipient Announced
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News Release
For Immediate Release
April 30, 2026
Contact
Gina Patterson, executive director
434-295-8722 or gina@vsba.org
VSBA Board of Directors Northeastern Region Regional Scholarship Recipient Announced
Charlottesville, VA – The Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) proudly announces Titus Er, a senior at Chantilly High School in Fairfax County Public Schools, as the 2026 VSBA Board of Directors Regional Scholarship recipient for the VSBA Northeastern Region. Er was recognized last night during the VSBA Northeastern Region Spring Network Forum and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support his post-secondary education.
As an Eagle Scout and the founder of Eagleyed.org, Titus has led major service initiatives across the DMV, mentored hundreds of students in music and debate, and organized programs serving underserved youth. As Head Captain of his debate team and a Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program Fellow, he combines analytical rigor with hands-on leadership to champion practical, community-based solutions.
After high school, Titus plans to attend the University of Virginia’s College of Arts & Sciences where he intends to pursue public policy and explore opportunities within UVA’s leadership, service, and research communities. His long-term goal is to work in public leadership and community-driven innovation, using policy and legal tools to ensure that every young person, regardless of background, can thrive.
When asked what receiving this scholarship meant to him, Er wrote, “Receiving the VSBA Scholarship is deeply meaningful to me because it affirms the values that have shaped my high-school journey—service, leadership, and a commitment to strengthening my community—and it also carries personal significance as a representative of Fairfax County and Chantilly High School. Growing up in one of the most diverse school systems in Virginia, I’ve seen firsthand how strong public institutions and the people who lead them can transform students’ lives, and this scholarship reminds me that the work I’ve put into leadership and community service is part of something larger: the mission to ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to opportunity, voice, and support.”
“Titus exemplifies the leadership, initiative, and commitment to service that we are proud to see in students across the Northeastern Region,” said VSBA Northeastern Region Chair and Spotsylvania County School Board Member Dr. Carol Medawar. “Through founding service initiatives, mentoring fellow students, and leading his debate team, Titus has demonstrated a passion for strengthening communities and empowering others. We are proud to recognize his accomplishments and look forward to the impact he will make in public leadership.”
VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson stated, “VSBA is honored to recognize students like Titus who use their talents and leadership to make meaningful difference in their communities. His commitment to service, mentorship, and expanding opportunities for others reflects the very best of what public education seeks to cultivate in the next generation of leaders.”
About the Virginia School Boards Association
The Virginia School Boards Association, a voluntary, nonpartisan organization of Virginia school boards, promotes excellence in public education through advocacy, training, and services. The Association offers conferences, information, training, and counseling designed to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s educational leaders.
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