Heritage High School twelfth grader Joey Martin was announced as the second-ever winner of the annual Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) Computer Science Scholarship at the school board meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Launched in 2025, the $15,000 needs-based scholarship is awarded annually by the LCS Education Foundation to a top computer science student who plans to pursue a career in the field.
“It is my privilege and honor to recognize this year’s recipient of the Lynchburg City Schools Computer Science Scholarship, Josiah Duval Martin,” said LCS Education Foundation Executive Director Dawn Wise. “When you meet Joey, it doesn’t take long before you realize you’re in the presence of someone pretty special. In addition to an advanced level of technical expertise, he has a distinct sense of passion, purpose, and a desire to uplift the people around him.”
Martin plans to attend the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he’ll major in computer science, minor in robotics, and conduct academic research. He intends to pursue a career in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Martin also received the QuestBridge National College Match scholarship, a prestigious award that will fund his education at Caltech.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve received to explore my passion for computer science at the college level. It means a lot to receive this scholarship,” Martin said.
Martin boasts a 4.37 GPA and attends both Heritage High and Central Virginia Governor’s School for Science and Technology. He’s conducted high-level AI research, earned industry certifications, and interned with the Lynchburg City Schools information technology department. Last year, he placed second in the state SkillsUSA cybersecurity competition and was recognized at the state level for his research in computational biology through the Virginia Junior Academy of Science.
Martin is the Outreach Lead for the FIRST Robotics program through Vector Space and has participated in multiple college preparatory courses and summer programs. He’s also a dedicated athlete; he played soccer at Heritage High during his freshman and sophomore years, and he’s been on the tennis team for the past three years.
Despite his long list of accomplishments, Martin still finds the time to give back to those around him. He’s known for mentoring fellow computer science students. He credits his teachers and coaches for inspiring him to go above and beyond, both inside and outside of the classroom.
“I’ve fallen in love with the research process during my time in Governor’s School. That program has been an amazing opportunity for me. I’ll also say that Mr. Carter’s cybersecurity classes at Heritage inspired me to want to pursue this career field. He’s been my biggest inspiration,” Martin said. “I also want to give a shoutout to Coach Camm and Coach Preston for always supporting me.”
This scholarship is made possible by donors Linda Carr and Clarence James, whose contributions are being used to remove barriers to learning for LCS students, address learners’ basic needs, and strengthen connections between schools and families.
