About Marja

Named in honor of Marja Kudej, Haymarket, Virginia native and persistent advocate for Women, Minorities, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ youth. Marja studied at George Mason University, earning a degree in English with a minor in Women and Gender Studies, focused on LGBTQ+ issues. She received the Outstanding Achievement in Women and Gender Studies award in 2011 and continued to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community until her passing in 2022. Marja’s advocacy helped others to change non-compliant policies within Virginia school districts that outed students without their consent. Marja’s dedication to LGBTQ+ youth in Virginia inspired her friends and family to carry on her mission by creating the Rise Up scholarship.