Madeline Miles, a 2021 graduate of Centreville High School, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Laura Ashley Piper Scholarship by the Fairfax County School Board.

Miles, who has a 4.519 grade average and coaches gymnastics for Chantilly Academy for eight hours a week, also volunteers for church events, blood drives, community trash clean-ups, school supply distribution, tutoring, and sanitizing health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, also volunteers in her classroom. She has supported her teachers in the classroom from grades 9-12 for 30 weeks a year since 2017. 

Additionally, Miles has served as both a contributor and an editor of the Centreville High School yearbook, designing pages, managing student groups, setting- and meeting- deadlines. She is an active member in several honor societies, including: English, Science, Math, Spanish, and National Honor Societies and served as President of the W. E. B Honor Society this year, where she managed the group’s tutoring initiative.

Beyond her service contributions and high grade point average, Miles is also an accomplished athlete. She ran Cross Country in 2017 and volunteered to serve as the team manager for Outdoor Track and Field the following year. Her freshman year, she joined the Varsity Gymnastics and earned the rank of team Captain by grade 11. That year, she also earned Varsity Gymnastics Top Athlete GPA, 4.78.  Senior year, she moved on to Chantilly Academy XCEL Competitive Gymnastics Team where she earned more than 125 medals in competitions across the region and state. 

In the fall, Miles will attend the University of Virginia as both an Echols and College Science Scholar. She plans to continue to pursue a career in biochemistry in the pharmaceutical industry, and to contribute to innovative molecular discoveries and design of medical technology that promotes societal advancement and growth especially in disease prevention and cancer research.

Laura Ashley Piper served as student representative to the Fairfax County School Board from 1986 to 1987. She graduated from Robinson Secondary School and the Air Force Academy and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. She was killed in action over northern Iraq in April 1994. To honor her strong commitment to student participation and to recognize her high standards of achievement and involvement, and her willingness to continually accept responsibility throughout her lifetime, the School Board established the annual $1,000 Laura Ashley Piper Scholarship. In 2007, Apple Federal Credit Union Education Foundation began its endowment of the scholarship, providing $1,000 annually.  Each year, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) high schools may nominate one senior student who exemplifies the “attributes of personal excellence and commitment to student government” of Piper for the award.

School Board Resolution: 

WHEREAS, Madeline Miles has remained consistently committed to excellence in academics, community service, athletics, and student leadership responsibilities throughout her years at Centreville High School; and 

WHEREAS, Madeline has shown great potential for continued academic success by maintaining a 4.519 grade point average; and by working towards an advanced diploma; and

 WHEREAS, during her time at Centreville, she has demonstrated commitment, responsibility, and kindness, and has helped and advocated to further integrate the school English and Spanish speaking communities; and

 WHEREAS, Madeline has contributed to her community by being an engaged member, volunteering her time to support blood drives, trash clean-ups at local parks, food pantries and school supplies distribution efforts, events and fundraisers at her church, and supporting healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

 WHEREAS, through her overall excellence in academics and activities, including athletic success in gymnastics, girls cross country, track and field, and enthusiasm for biochemistry and medical technologies, she in every way personifies the characteristics and ideals to which Laura Ashley Piper adhered; and 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fairfax County School Board awards the Laura Ashley Piper Scholarship to Madeline Miles in memory of Lt. Piper and recognition of both for their drive, determination, and dedication to excellence.