Scholarships

Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center (WCAC) College Art Scholarships

Each Spring, Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center awards Art Scholarships to Graduating seniors in the Williamsburg, James City County and Bruton District of York County School Districts, including home-schooled students residing in these districts.

The scholarships are awarded to the high school seniors who best demonstrate an ability in art and are planning to continue their education at the college level in the Fall with art as a major interest.

Eduardo L. Lopez Scholarship Foundation

A financial scholarship will be awarded to one (1) graduating high school senior within the Commonwealth of Virginia.   A viable candidate is one who displays leadership, ambition to succeed, and a desire to serve their community.

Application Requirements:

• Must be a graduating senior from a high school within the Commonwealth of Virginia 

• Acceptance Letter to a Two (2) Year College or Four (4) Year University/College 

• Official High School Transcript 

• 400 Word Essay 

First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest

First Act, First Look Screenplay Contest – Think your first act has what it takes to captivate an audience? Submit the first 30 pages of your feature script for the chance to win $500 from the Virginia Screenwriters Forum (VSF)!

This competition is open to any screenwriter, 18 or older, who has not earned or won $2,500 or more as a screenwriter or sold or optioned a script. Entering the competition constitutes permission to use the winners’ names and likenesses for publicity and promotions with no additional compensation.

For the contest, VSF is partnering with James River Writers (JRW), an acclaimed organization connecting, supporting and inspiring writers in central Virginia and beyond. JRW provides programming year-round to help writers at all skill levels develop their craft as well as the business side of their work.

The Askew Scholarship Program

The Askew Scholarship Program is provided through the generosity of the
Askew/Harrington families and awarded by Corinth United Methodist Church
Scholarship Committee. Scholarships are awarded annually to individuals who grew up
in or presently reside on the east side of Richmond (i.e.. Eastern Henrico, New Kent,
Varina, Sandston, etc.) who are in degree programs or post degree programs that
address the root causes of violence and create change. This would include, but not be
limited to: the fields of criminal justice, international relations, education, psychology,
interreligious studies, ethics, peace studies, conflict resolution, social work and ministry.

Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association (VCTGA) Scholarship

Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association (VCTGA)
is an association of professional Christmas tree growers
interested in the expansion of the farming industry by
growing and marketing quality trees. Through
support of research and education, they strive to improve the numbers, quality and types of trees
available to the fresh tree market.
Two $1,500 educational scholarships will be awarded annually to students who are furthering their
educations through attendance at accredited colleges or universities. The scholarships are
available to rising juniors, seniors or graduate students majoring in forestry or horticulture

The Society of The War of 1812 in Virginia High School Essay Contest

Applicants need to write an essay about a Virginian who supported the US in the War of 1812.  See high school counselor for additional details.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (Iota Sigma Chapter) – Dr. Jocelyn H. Whitehead Academic Scholarship

Application Eligibility

Each Applicant must:

• A graduating minority female senior enrolled in a high school located in the Metro Richmond and surrounding areas (Chesterfield & Henrico).
•  Possess a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale
• Accepted to a full-time study at an accredited four-year college or university and provide proof of acceptance.

Southern Automotive Women’s Forum (SAWF) Scholarship Program

About SAWF Scholarships
The SAWF Scholarship Program, introduced in 2011, provides financial assistance to women enrolled or enrolling in a STEM field at an accredited two-year technical program, four-year undergraduate program or a graduate program with a preference for those interested in the automobile and mobility industry.

Southern Nursery Association – Sydney B. Meadows Scholarship Fund

Purpose: The Sidney B. Meadows Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in 1989 by the Southern
Nursery Association to aid students from sixteen southeastern states seeking a career in horticulture. The
Scholarship is dedicated to one of the most honored horticultural leaders, the late Sidney B. Meadows.

Virginia Thanksgiving Festival, Inc. Scholarship

The board of Directors of the Virginia Thanksgiving Festival, Inc. shall annually have the exclusive right and privilege to grant and award a monetary award for an academic scholarship on the merit achievement and the record of a student that is a full-time resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The student must attend an accredited College or University for the following academic year as a full-time student, but the College or University can be outside of the State of Virginia.  The College or University shall not include Junior colleges, Community colleges and/or technical schools or trade training programs or such institutions.

James River Soil and Water Conservation District – Donald A. Bagshaw Memorial Scholarship

The James River Soil and Water Conservation District is pleased to announce a new scholarship opportunity open to high school seniors living in the counties of Chesterfield and Prince George. The Donald A. Bagshaw Memorial Scholarship goal is to promote the higher education of our community in fields emphasizing natural resource conservation, agriculture, or environmental studies.

Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) Annual Conservation Poster Contest

The annual Conservation Poster Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth grade students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state conservation associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The poster contest theme follows the annual NACD Stewardship theme.

The contest is open to public, private or home school students, girl scout/boy scout troops, etc.

Henrico Education Foundation – Lucia Whalen Bremer Memorial Scholarship

The selection committee will review applications through a blinded process facilitated by the Henrico Education Foundation. Applicants must have attended Quioccasin Middle School for at least one year, be pursuing a Standard or an Advanced Studies diploma, and possess a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Henrico Education Foundation – Sandra Marroquin Scholarship

This is a nominated scholarship, please reach out to your school counselor for more information.

Henrico Education Foundation – Rose Family Scholarship

This is a nominated scholarship, please reach out to your school counselor for more information.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) Scholarships

Each year, NOVEC provides local area high school students the opportunity to apply for college scholarships. The scholarships award $2,000 to high school students in five counties where NOVEC provides electric service — Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Stafford, and in the City of Manassas Park. Students may attend public, private or home school. One scholarship will go to a student attending an HBCU, and another to a student attending a vocational or trade school. Applicant residence must be currently served by NOVEC.

After the scholarships are awarded, another review will be conducted of the winners and selection committees will award the $5,000 Manley Garber Scholarship to the top outstanding student. This student will receive a total of $7,000.

Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) Scholarship for the State of Virginia

To be eligible, an applicant must satisfy the below requirements in full:

• Must be a resident of Virginia.
• Applicant must be under the age of 25.
• Must have been diagnosed with and/or been actively treated for a cancer or chronic disease within the past five years.
• Must be pursuing an Associate’s degree or higher.

Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District-Lindy Hamlett Education Scholarships

Each year, through the Lindy Hamlett Education Scholarship Fund, the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District offers scholarships to high school seniors and college students. These scholarships give financial support to students planning to enroll or currently enrolled in a college curriculum related to natural resource conservation and/or environmental studies. The awarded scholarship application is also eligible for the annual VASWCD Education Foundation scholarship awards.

Smithfield Foundation Scholarship – Virginia State University

The Smithfield Foundation is proud to provide educational scholarships to the dependent children and grandchildren of full-time and retired employees of Smithfield Foods.  You must first apply and be accepted to be awarded a Smithfield Foundation scholarship.

Smithfield Foundation Scholarship – University of South Dakota

The Smithfield Foundation is proud to provide educational scholarships to the dependent children and grandchildren of full-time and retired employees of Smithfield Foods.  You must first apply and be accepted to be awarded a Smithfield Foundation scholarship.

Smithfield Foundation Scholarship – South Dakota State

The Smithfield Foundation is proud to provide educational scholarships to the dependent children and grandchildren of full-time and retired employees of Smithfield Foods.  You must first apply and be accepted to be awarded a Smithfield Foundation scholarship.

Virginia School Boards Association – (VSBA) Board of Directors Regional Scholarship

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for the VSBA Board of Directors Regional Scholarship, applicants must:

– Must be able to attend their respective Regional Networking Forum (a full list of regional meeting dates is included on the last page of the scholarship packet). If you are unsure of which VSBA region your school division is in, please visit https://www.vsba.org/vsba-regions/

– Be a high school senior graduating in Spring 2026.

– Reside in and attend a public high school in a school division that is a member of the VSBA and located within one of the nine VSBA regions. For a complete list of VSBA regions and member school divisions, please visit https://www.vsba.org/vsba-regions/

– Demonstrate commitment to their local community through service and leadership.

– Plan to pursue post-secondary education, which may include college, vocational school, or another accredited career training program.

bbgb Books Scholarship

The bbgb scholarship is a nonacademic grant for high school seniors in the greater Richmond region. The application process was created to be as accessible as possible, requiring only basic contact info, and an essay response to the question: what is a book that you think everyone in your community should read and why? alongside the monetary award of $1,000, scholarship recipients receive 10 copies of the book they chose to write about in their essay to give to members in their community.

Virginia Bluebird Society Young Birder Scholarship Program

The Virginia Bluebird Society is proud to provide scholarships/grants up to a maximum of $500 to help young people who are interested in birds to attend summer camps, workshops, training programs, conventions and other birding-related activities.  Individual must be a resident of Virginia between the ages of 14 and 22.

Hanover Optimist Essay Contest

The contest is open to contestants under the age of 19 as of October 1st of the current Optimist International contest year (October 1 – September 30) and who have not yet completed secondary school or its equivalent, including CEGEP students in Québec, Canada. There is no minimum age. Students must enter in the District in which they reside (see application for additional information).

Virginia Zeta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship

Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) Scholarships

The Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (VIAAA) offers three scholarship opportunities to high school seniors in the State of Virginia who have participated in athletics at a Virginia High School League member school or Independent school.

FIRST Chesapeake Women in STEM Scholarships

Eligibility: Scholarships available for women (high school juniors and seniors) currently registered with a FIRST team in the FIRST Chesapeake District (FTC or FRC in DC, Maryland and Virginia)

Virginia War Memorial Foundation – Marocchi Memorial College Scholarship

In memory of Rear Admiral John Marocchi, a scholarship has been created to encourage and enable motivated individuals who are enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at a Virginia school of higher education.

You must meet the following criteria when submitting your application package:
1. Be currently enrolled full-time at a Virginia college or university, AND currently enrolled
in an ROTC program at that school (any branch).
2. Have graduated from a Virginia High School or otherwise able to indicate status as a
Virginian prior to beginning college.
3. Be a US citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
4. Possess a minimum GPA of 2.75

Virginia 811 Scholarship