Susan Senn  and Mary Beth Pelosky  are pleased to announce the spring 2022 AAUW Lunch Bunch Awards Recipient, Arlington Community High School Senior, Julianna Ditta.  In keeping with our Lunch Bunch theme for 2021-22,  Profiles of a Virginia Graduate. Julianna is a model of courage, innovation, persistence and resilience. She is on track to complete her high school diploma in under two years on campus due to a four-year illness delay between 9th and 12th grade.

Julianna was selected as the Poet Laureate for Arlington Community High School, 2021-2022.  She represented the Arlington Public Schools at the Poetry Out Loud competition with 9 other Virginia Regional Finalists. In addition, Julianna received an Honorable Mention in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. 2022, as one of her poems “Missing” Poetry was selected from 1,000’s of entries.

Julianna is currently a member of the Wakefield Warriors Swim Team, admirably besting her previous times in 100-meter free style relay.

Prior to her illness, Julianna was active in 9th grade acting and dancing roles in Wakefield plays. A bright, talented artist, she designed and produced the cover art and school play posters and playbills for each play. Participated in the Arts as choreographer, chorus, choir, pianist, and bassist. Elected as chief artist to paint art in APS, Julianna’s artwork is on display walls at several Arlington schools that included human characters and mascots. Please join us in congratulating Julianna on this award!

Mary Beth Pelosky, Chair