Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Announces 2026 Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards Program Recipients
ROCHESTER, NY (May 4, 2026) - Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the recipients for its 2026 Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards, presented as part of its Women’s Council initiative. The scholarship program supports senior high school girls with the idea that young women with promise today will become tomorrow’s leaders.
The 2026 scholarship award recipients are as follows:
- Annalecia Claire, Geneseo Central High School
- Maren Freece, Churchville Chili High School
- Brooklyn Jamison, The Harley School
- Nadia Lewis, World of Inquiry High School
The four top recipients, one each from the Rochester City School District, Monroe County East Side, Monroe County West Side, and the eight regional counties surrounding Monroe County, receive a $1,500 scholarship and all other finalists receive a $100 scholarship.
This year’s other finalists are below:
- Haven Benz, Midlakes High School
- Jazmarie Cruz Rivera, Edison Career and Technology School
- Natalie Esposito, Churchville Chili High School
- Katie Falk, Gates Chili High School
- Harper Kuehne, Eastridge High School
- Yamilet Perez-Velazquez, Midlakes High School
- Sabrina Reyda, Our Lady of Mercy
- Bridget Ripstein, Alexander Central School
- Mia Rountree, East Rochester High School
- Lilah Sickles, Canandaigua Academy
- Laura Wood, Livonia High School
Modeled after the ATHENA Awards, the Young Women of Distinction program is designed to discover high school seniors who have displayed outstanding leadership, academic excellence, and involvement in the nine-county Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes region.
The Young Women of Distinction Scholarship Awards Program is supported in part by Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation.