2026 Greater Washington Scholarship Celebration

‘Beyond the Tassel’ Celebrates Growing Scholarship Impact in Greater Washington

Educate Fairfax celebrated the class of 2026 at its second annual Beyond the Tassel event on May 28, an inspiring evening dedicated to honoring students and the bright futures ahead of them. Educate Fairfax is the only charitable foundation dedicated exclusively to raising funds to support the success of Fairfax County Public Schools by addressing gaps in funding. Thanks to a strategic partnership with Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA), Think Big partners with Educate Fairfax to promote and administer scholarships.

This year’s celebration marked meaningful growth for Think Big for Kids in the Greater Washington region. After launching the scholarship program with two scholarships last year, Think Big expanded its impact in 2026 by awarding six “Think Big Expect More” scholarships to graduating seniors across Fairfax County Public Schools.

Think Big’s scholarship presentation at Beyond the Tassel was delivered by Kelly Robucci, director of talent at Fairfax County EDA and co-chair of Think Big’s Greater Washington Advisory Board, underscoring the strong collaboration between education, workforce development and industry leaders working together to support students as they prepare for future careers.

Joshua Osei-Nimoh, Think Big scholarship recipient and the event’s student speaker, passionately shared that the support he received was not just financial, but deeply personal – a reminder that an entire community believes in his future.

Beyond the Tassel continues to grow each year, expanding both opportunity and impact throughout the Greater Washington region. For Think Big for Kids, the event reflects an ongoing commitment to helping students pursue meaningful career pathways and achieve success beyond graduation.