ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington Soccer Association is excited to announce the recipients of the inaugural Full-Time College Scholarships. 

The scholarships were awarded to five members of Arlington Soccer who have been with the club for at least 10 years and who will be entering their freshman year of college this fall. Arlington Soccer selected the scholarship recipients based on their commitment to the club, academic endeavors and service to the community.  All scholarship recipients are great examples of how our program can help to develop great people and great athletics. 

Thanks to all those who applied and congrats to our recipients!

Will Allen

Will is heading to the University of South Carolina after graduating from Washington-Liberty High School. He has been a member of Arlington Soccer since 2010, starting with the rec program, then moving on to the Arlington Developmental Program (ADP) and spending the last eight years with the travel and academy programs. He has been a well-rounded member of the community, volunteering with DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), the Washington-Liberty ACLU chapter, Arlington Athletes of Action and at his church, First Presbyterian Church. In addition to soccer, he also played rec basketball for Arlington County, competed on the Dominion Hills Area Association swim team for more than 12 years and competed for the Washington-Liberty High School team. 

“I have been a part of Arlington Soccer for well over half of my life and it has given me several unforgettable experiences such as the Dallas Cup, team trips to Costa Rica, two State Cups and, most importantly, making me fall in love with the game of soccer. It has also built me up as a person. After having many different coaches and people from Arlington Soccer in my life, I can certainly say they have positively affected my life. Additionally, Arlington Soccer has given me the opportunity to give back and pay it forward through employment opportunities – working at camps and clinics with young aspiring goalkeepers. It means a lot to me being able to support the community which gave me so much.”

Ava Gomez

Ava graduated from Yorktown High School and will begin attending the University of Virginia in the fall. She has been a member of Arlington Soccer since 2011, playing rec for more than 10 seasons. She also played in the travel program, with the 2005 Girls Blue and White teams, and was a referee for two seasons. Ava has been involved in her community, volunteering with Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing, the Arlington Public Schools Extended Day program and the Skills on the Hill Pediatric Therapy Clinic. She also attended the Arlington Leadership Center for Excellence’s summer program in 2022. 

“In my time with Arlington soccer I have developed a great appreciation for physical activity and its impact on mental health. Soccer games allowed me to be physically active and stay fit, while also providing me an outlet to improve my mental health by moving my focus from certain anxieties to what’s happening at the practice or game. Being committed to a team helped me learn the importance of responsibility and teamwork, as being a good team member meant showing up and putting in my best effort at every event. Also, serving as a referee allowed me to be a role model, demonstrating to young players women in positions of authority. 

Zoe Korejwo

Zoe recently graduated from Wakefield High School and will be attending Mary Washington University in the fall. She has played for the Arlington Soccer rec program for more than 13 years and has served as a captain. She also served as a rec referee for three seasons. At Wakefield, she played on the girls soccer team for three years and was named the most improved player in 2022. 

“Arlington Soccer has allowed me to find a community of supportive teammates who just want to go out, have fun and play soccer. We aren't the best but we have a fantastic time playing and laughing with one another. The friendships I have made though Arlington are something I will hold near and dear to my heart for the rest of my life. I am going to miss seeing these girls every week and being given the opportunity to play with them. I will forever be grateful for everything Arlington Soccer has given me.”

Adriana Sparks

Adriana Sparks will begin her freshman year at Columbia University this fall after graduating from Arlington Tech High School. She began playing rec with Arlington Soccer in 2009 when she was in kindergarten. For more than 10 years, she played in the travel program, including for the 2005 Academy, Red and White teams. Outside of the club, she stayed very involved in the community. She was active in her Scout BSA troop, earning the highest scouting honor in Eagle Scout and took upon leadership roles as assistant scoutmaster and senior patrol leader. She also volunteered at the Our Lady Queen of Peace food pantry, served as a mentor for the Rosie Riveters club to mentor younger girls in STEM, and participated on the FIRST Robotics team. At her school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, participated on the Equity Committee and served as a tech ambassador to younger students. In addition to playing varsity soccer at Wakefield High School, she also played basketball and competed on the track and field team. 

“Arlington Soccer helped me build valuable life skills, such as hard work, decision-making, problem solving and consistency. The club also taught me teamwork, cooperation and perseverance. It gave me a community where I was cared for and respected and where I gained friends for life. I can say my confidence and empowerment were enhanced because of soccer. I am very appreciative not only for all the skills I learned but also for the financial aid I received from the club. It allowed me to continue playing the game I love.”

Joseph Suarez

Joseph will be attending George Mason University in the fall after graduating from Wakefield High School this past spring. He played for both the rec and travel programs while in the club, most recently with the 2005/04 Boys White team. He also played soccer and the violin at Wakefield. He plans to study engineering at George Mason. 

“Arlington Soccer helped me perform and train better thanks to the guidance and tutelage from amazing coaches. It’s a place where they have given me a chance to try to play and train at a higher level. I also made some friends and they meant everything to me. Coaches and teammates were there for me, and I was there for them.”