Alexander Steinbach
Meridian High School
Alex Steinbach exudes joy, even over Zoom. A natural performer, he sang in three school bands, was cast as the lead in Meridian High School’s fall production of Pippin, served as marketing coordinator for his school’s theater department, emceed monthly school coffeehouse concerts and was a member of the District 10 Choir.
Perhaps even more remarkable is that Steinbach entered Meridian as a senior—a transfer student from Germany, where he lived with his family for seven years before they returned to the U.S. It was a tough transition, helped by his ability to make friends easily. “I was sort of a mama hen, taking other people under my wing,” he says. “I joined everything, and when you join everything, people know who you are.”
Steinbach didn’t waste any time upon arrival in Falls Church. By the time he met with school counselor Valerie Chesley to register for classes, he had already contacted Meridian’s choir director. “He really wanted to immerse himself in our community,” Chesley says. “The way he treats other students is so welcoming.”
The first day of senior year, he linked up with another transfer student (also from Germany) and created the Mustang Mysteries Club, a student-led group of true-crime enthusiasts. In January, the club wrote a murder mystery and hosted an interactive Murder Mystery Night charity fundraiser. Steinbach trained his classmates to play detectives, suspects and witnesses, and audience members paid $10 a ticket to help solve the crime. The endeavor raised $1,000 for the Innocence Project.
Steinbach, 18, has been writing screenplays since sixth grade. He wants to work in TV or film and hopes to start his career in London. This fall he’ll begin college at the EICAR International Film School in Paris.