Lighting The Path
Scholarships
The Community Foundation and its generous donors help make education attainable and affordable for deserving local students pursuing vocational certifications and academic degrees.
$1.4 Million
In Annual Scholarships
140+
Students Awarded
27
Scholarship Funds
Explore Our Scholarships
Learn more about scholarships and criteria to apply. Our donors are invested in your path to intellectual challenge, career exploration and development, and economic success.
Apply for a Scholarship
Take the eligibility quiz and begin your application process.
Donate to a Scholarship
Scholarships help achieve educational and career goals, build our workforce, and memorialize loved ones. Your donation makes a difference.
Learn about Memorial Gifts
Remember a loved one and commemorate their legacy.
Scholarship FAQs
I am unsure if I meet the qualifications. What should I do?
Our scholarship application opens December 1. The application begins with an eligibility quiz, so go ahead and click on the “Apply” button to find out.
Do you have scholarships for adult students?
Yes, there are several scholarships for adult students, including all of our vocational scholarships. Our scholarship directory will help you find options.
Do you have vocational scholarships?
Yes, please go to the Scholarship Directory to learn more about our vocational scholarships. Our participation in the Virginia Ready program has provided more than $400,000 over three years to help local students pursuing studies and certifications in the skilled trades, nursing, and IT/technology each year. We also have several other scholarships that fund vocational studies.
Who reviews applications and selects the recipients for each scholarship?
More than 80 community members volunteer to serve on approximately 30 scholarship committees.
The committees review applications each year and make decisions about recipients of awards. Committees are made up of equitable representation from among donors, foundation board members, and other area residents with connections to the field, profession, industry, and/or education.
I have been awarded a scholarship. What happens next?
Congratulations! You will be notified and sent a link to an formal acceptance form that you must fill out. All of our financial awards are sent directly to the school.
Are all scholarships need-based?
Many of our donors have elected to make need a consideration during the selection process. However, that is not the case with all scholarships. We encourage you to read through the information about the scholarship carefully to see if you meet the criteria.
How is financial need determined?
Students and/or families seeking financial assistance should begin the process by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Through detailed information provided on the application, a Student Aid Report (SAR) is issued. On the SAR, the Student Aid Index (SAI) is listed.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based, federal eligibility number (-1500 to 999999) derived from the FAFSA that determines a student’s need for financial aid. It replaces the previous Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and is used by schools to calculate financial need (Cost of Attendance – SAI = Need). A lower, or even negative, SAI indicates higher financial need. The SAI influences the financial aid package offered by a college’s financial aid office.
Our financial need-based scholarship applications require the Financial Aid Notification from the financial aid office at the college the student plans to attend. If this document is not available before the application deadline, we may consider the student’s SAR instead.
If I receive a renewable scholarship, do I need to reapply?
You are required to submit a transcript, course schedule, and additional information each year to renew your scholarship.
Is an unofficial transcript acceptable?
Yes. We prefer an official transcript but realize at some schools an unofficial transcript is more easily available.
How is the scholarship paid?
The scholarship award is sent directly to the educational institution with your name and student identification number. Most checks are mailed after July 1.
Should I apply if my adjusted gross income (AGI) is above a certain amount, or if I know I am receiving a large scholarship from the school?
We consider many factors when determining need, such as the financial aid notification from the college a student plans to attend, the students Student Aid Report (SAR), and the college’s cost of attendance. The SAR is issued from information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
*Filling out the FAFSA is the first step in the process that you are responsible for. The SAR is generated automatically once you complete the FAFSA.
Seasonal Scholarship Cycle
December 1
Applications Open
April 5
Applications Close
May/June
Announcement
Explore Our Scholarships
Learn more about scholarships and criteria to apply. Our donors are invested in your path to intellectual challenge, career exploration and development, and economic success.
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