The local nonprofit Commonwealth Circle, Inc. announced the recipients of their 2015 scholarships. Three local youths, Ada Haensel, Angie Leon and Karl Green, were awarded scholarships of $4,000 each based off of their academic records, community service and recommendations from teachers and counselors.

To be eligible for the scholarships each student must plan to pursue a career in community or public service and submit an essay stating why their community is important to them. Funds for the scholarships, which are in their fourth of existence, are raised through a spring luncheon, which features a silent auction and a guest speaker. This year Chuck Todd of NBC’s “Meet the Press” was the speaker.

Haensel is a graduate of George Mason High School who plans to attend the University of Virginia. Leon is a graduate of Washington-Lee High School who who plans to attend Radford University. Green is a graduate of Wakefield High School who plans to attend New York University.