Nominated by the Friends of the Arlington Public Library
During her long career in the Arlington Public Schools, including two terms on the Arlington School Board, Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez has been dedicated to helping low-income students, particularly in the immigrant community.
Her accomplishments include developing and implementing a comprehensive English Language program which has been used as a national model and establishing the first bilingual GED program in Virginia, as well as programs for English Language learners.
In 2010, she started the Dream Project, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to support immigrant youth. Students are supported through a strong network of mentoring, scholarships, and family engagement and are encouraged to use education as a vehicle to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential.
In 2017, she was awarded the Women of Vision Lifetime Achievement Award by the Arlington Commission on the Status of Women, and in 2018 she received the Arlington Community Foundation Annual Spirit of the Community Award.