Dr. Robert L. Eichorn - Pack Leader Scholarship 2025

This scholarship is in honor of Dr. Robert L. Eichorn

Dr. Robert L. Eichorn has served the nontraditional and alternative educational communities for more than 30 years, serving as a teacher, program manager, principal, and president of the National Alternative Education Association (NAEA).  

His core belief is that the most socio-economically challenged, emotionally in need, and intellectually started students deserve the best schools, teachers, and support services. He is an educational visionary creates educational equity for all, by championing learner- and staff-centered access, modeling application as a team, eliminating technology barriers, and continually evaluating and celebrating successes. Dr. Eichorn served as principal for Independence Nontraditional School, the largest nontraditional high school in the Commonwealth of Virginia, from July 2018 - June 2022. During those years, he expanded virtual and blended learning options for students directly enrolled at the school and simultaneously offering several hundred seats to students enrolled at other high schools. Under his leadership, Independence Nontraditional School earned national recognition for STEM Education, Dropout Prevention and Recovery, Digital Learning, and School Counseling. He developed initiatives within the Commonwealth and throughout the nation, for alternative school reform, development of national standards for alternative and nontraditional schools, and expanding STEAM opportunities for at-risk students. 

A native of Virginia, Dr. Eichorn holds multiple degrees in education from James Madison, and George Mason Universities, and has earned his doctoral degree in Educational Neuroscience from George Washington University.  

• Applicant must have participated in a nontraditional program such as: Independence Nontraditional School, GED/ISAEP, Computer-Based Instruction (CBI), Juvenile Detention Center, or PACE West 

• All applicants must graduate by August 1, 2025, and intend on beginning their schooling in the fall of 2025.

• GPA 2.5 or higher 

Applicant must include the following when applying:

• A completed application.

• No more than two letters of reference. One letter must be from a PWCS Nontraditional staff member. The optional letter can be from a school, community, civic, and religious leaders.

• A well-written, original, essay, consisting of a minimum of 250 words. Essay will be evaluated and rated on organizational structure, development of topic, clarity, creativity, and the use of the English language conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.). Essay must include one of the topics below, and how this scholarship will be helpful and assist with continuing the applicant’s education. 

  • Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced, and its impact on you. 

  • Describe how your nontraditional experience positively impacted your life.  

  • Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you and explain that influence. 

  • Describe an activity that you have participated in that shows your leadership potential for the future.