The Class of 2026 at Fork Union Military Academy is closing in on a remarkable milestone, with cadets earning a cumulative $6,877,283 in academic merit scholarships to date.

With more than a month still remaining in the college decision season, the total continues to climb as cadets receive additional acceptance letters and merit awards from colleges and universities across the country.

Importantly, this figure reflects academic merit scholarships only. Athletic scholarships are not included, making the total a strong indicator of the Academy’s academic success and college preparation.

Among the class’s notable college achievements is Chrysander Rahardjo, a QuestBridge Finalist who was matched to Duke University through the highly competitive QuestBridge National College Match, earning a full four-year scholarship to the prestigious institution.

The milestone reflects the strength of Fork Union’s distinctive One Subject Plan, which allows cadets to focus on a single academic subject during each grading term. The model has consistently produced impressive results, with cadets maintaining an Honor Roll rate of approximately 85 percent.

The achievement is also a testament to the Academy’s faculty, 62 percent of whom hold master’s degrees or higher, and who work closely with cadets to prepare them for the rigors of college and beyond.

In addition to scholarship success, several members of the senior class continue to pursue appointments to the nation’s service academies. Four cadets are currently awaiting final decisions for appointments to the United States Military Academy (West Point), the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and the United States Naval Academy.

Two cadets have already achieved a significant step in that process. Andres Olalla-Casas and Nicholas Coleman each received nominations from both of Virginia’s United States Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, an uncommon distinction that highlights their leadership, academic achievement, and character.

Both cadets have also earned prestigious ROTC scholarships. Coleman was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship to either Washington University in St. Louis or Virginia Military Institute, while Olalla-Casas earned a Navy ROTC scholarship to Virginia Tech. Coleman was also recognized nationally as the recipient of the Leadership Award from the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS).

Fork Union began formally tracking cumulative academic merit scholarship totals in 2020, when the college admissions landscape shifted significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic and schools adopted more holistic application review processes alongside the transition to the Digital SAT. Since that time, the Academy’s cadets have continued to see increasing success in earning academic scholarships.

With additional college decisions still to come, the Class of 2026 is poised to continue building on this impressive total as they prepare for the next chapter of their academic journeys.