Yale University

“Coach Pfaff and Mr. Craig are the teachers who’ve had the biggest impact on me as a person. Coach Pfaff taught me that running can change your life. Mr. Craig inspired a lifelong love of chemistry and science within me; I hope to return to meet with medical scholars as an MD-PhD candidate one day.”   

Dartmouth College

“Norfolk Academy has had a lasting impact on my character through the trust instilled in our community and the close-knit support system the school provides. I have enjoyed being at a school where I can walk into my teacher’s office and share what is on my mind.”

University of Virginia

“Norfolk Academy has taught me how to push myself. Instead of taking the easy road and cruising through life, Norfolk Academy has provided me with the opportunity to be challenged in a way where I can persevere through hardships, learn from my mistakes, and become more self-driven.” 

Johns Hopkins University

“At Norfolk Academy, I believe I have truly learned how to be my own person. There are so many opportunities that I have been given here where I had the space to grow and learn what and who I want to be when I graduate. I’m so grateful to have had the privilege to try new things and fail in a safe space so that I could decide the future that I want to achieve.” 

University of Iowa 

“Norfolk Academy taught me the importance of reaching out to people who are not part of my friend group. My experience as a new student in ninth grade taught me how important it is to be kind to strangers and offer a smile in the hallway to someone.” 

University of Virginia

“Norfolk Academy has imbued me with the tenets of honor and community. With the values I have learned here, I hope to bring other spaces of learning the same academic sanctity that I enjoy.” 

Southern Methodist University

“Norfolk Academy has given me the drive for success. I hold myself to the highest standard, and I think that came from how my teachers stressed working hard.”

University of Pennsylvania

“Norfolk Academy has pushed me to think in new and different ways. I feel that through class and other avenues, I try to look at situations through a new lens in which I ask questions that I would not have thought of before. Norfolk Academy created an intellectuality in me that I will carry with me throughout my life.” 

Princeton University

“Norfolk Academy has given me the tools, both in academics and in character, to go forth and make an impact on the world. I’ve learned how to think critically about important issues through programs like Fellows, but I’ve also learned how to be kind and empathetic from NA’s close-knit community. NA has also helped me to find my passions as well as many lifelong friends.” 

University of North Carolina Greensboro

“NA has ingrained the value of honesty in me. I love being able to fully trust the people I'm with, and I carry that spirit with me in the outside world. My peers are extremely welcoming, and I love the fact that I will always be a Bulldog.” 

Yale University

“Our emphasis on honor and integrity has left the most lasting and significant impact on me. As I prepare for life beyond NA, I am aware that the world does not always follow an honor code, so I am grateful that I possess a strong sense of my own personal honor and integrity.” 

United States Naval Academy

“Norfolk Academy ensured that while my family and I were supporting my father’s military orders overseas, I was still able to continue my advanced track of education, though I was no longer an enrolled student. For that I will be forever grateful.” 

Stanford University

“In all of my 12 years at NA, I have never had a teacher I didn't like. Each and every one of them was passionate about the topic they taught, which greatly impacted my work ethic in the class.”

University of Pennsylvania

“Tangibly, I hope I have left an impact through my contributions on the Honor Council and my leadership in my involved clubs. Intangibly, I hope that my perspective and dry sense of humor have progressed learning within the classroom.” 

Reed College

“Literacy Fellows has made a significant impact on my life. I’ve learned so much about poverty, education, racism, housing, the local Tidewater area - the list goes on. I am so grateful for this program!” 

Princeton University

“Norfolk Academy has taught me to not be afraid to fail. Through projects through the Fellows Program, athletic experiences, and classroom projects, I have failed over and over again. However, Academy's supportive environment inspires me to keep trying new ideas and realize that failing is not something to fear.” 

Harvard University

“Enjoy the ride and look for the little moments that will make an experience memorable and special. Be it reciting poems during a Physics class or staying up until after 2 a.m. working on a Robotics notebook, those small moments will be what stick with you months or years after.” 

Texas Christian University

“The magic of the senior lounge made me realize how sad I am to be leaving my NA family. The inclusivity, excitement and fun made me excited to go to school.”