Program Intern Tess Larsen wins 2025 NRV Leading Lights Award

Tess Larsen, Literacy NRV intern and Blacksburg High School graduating senior, received a New River Valley Distinguished Leading Lights award in an April ceremony at the Virginia Tech German Club.

Larsen was one of 11 New River Valley residents recognized by New River Valley Leading Lights, a non-profit organization that honors local volunteers who are making community-changing impact at its annual volunteer awards program.

“Tess Larsen stands out as exceptional because her volunteer contributions as a high school student are both impressive and inspiring,” said Ginny Ayers, executive director of Literacy NRV, the organization who nominated Tess for the award. 

“Tess has been an invaluable part of our team for 6 years, starting as a volunteer in 6th grade and taking on greater responsibility as she grew,” said Ayers. “While she excels academically -- National Merit Finalist, National Honor Society, BHS Student of the Month Award, and more -- and has a broad range of talents, her caring heart drove her to connect with our work and expand her impact with us over the years. Tess’s long-term commitment to our mission is rare and demonstrates her deep passion for service.”

According to Ayers, Larsen has contributed more than 500 hours of volunteer time to Literacy NRV.  Larsen has given the gift of literacy to more than 100 children ages 2-12 by implementing fun and educational book-themed learning activities during Literacy NRV’s Family READS (Reading and English to Achieve Dreams and Success) program to help children develop literacy skills and a love of reading. She has tutored and helped more than 10 adults increase digital literacy skills to achieve meaningful goals, including completing online job search, getting a job, completing forms required by the courts, and learning how to use email. And Larsen’s creative and administrative work on fundraisers has contributed to an increase in revenue for the non-profit. 

Larsen also volunteered with Planned Parenthood of South Atlantic as a peer health educator trained to work with young people, as well as Aspen Institute's Our Future is Science Program as an advocate for Narcan training to save lives. At Blacksburg High School, Larsen has been a leader of the Women's Healthcare Club and serves as a math and computer science tutor through both the Math and Science National Honor Societies. 

As a winner of a 2025 Distinguished Leading Light Award, Larsen was presented with a $500 gift to be donated to her non-profit of choice. 

Larsen will attend Tufts University in the fall. “ Getting to see that our efforts, no matter how small, are having a positive effect on a real person’s life is so moving! It reminds me that we have the power to help the people around us AND the greater world -- and that there is an incredible group of volunteers and students who are motivated to do that. Volunteering makes me proud of my community!” said Larsen.

For more information about New River Valley Leading Lights and to read about all the 2025 recipients, please visit https://leadinglightsnrv.org.