Congratulations to 2016 Highland graduate Joseph Wiencek, who has received a Johnson Scholarship to attend Washington and Lee University. He will receive tuition, room and board and graduate debt-free.

The scholarships are awarded on the basis of candidates’ exceptional academic and personal promise. Weincek began classes at W&L this past September and was among 38 winners of the prestigious scholarship for 2016.

The Johnson Scholarship Program was established in 2007 as a result of an historic $100 million gift to the university. Weincek won the scholarship in competition with about 170 finalists who were selected from an initial applicant pool of more than 2,650 high school seniors from throughout the country and around the world.

The Johnson Scholarship is part of a program that includes a lecture series on topics in leadership and integrity and awards grants to about 30 additional students to conduct off-campus research during the summer after their sophomore or junior years. W&L University, located in Lexington, Va., is the nation’s ninth oldest institution of higher education and is among the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges and universities.

Joseph is the son of Anka and Thomas Wiencek of Granger Township.