RICHMOND, Va.—The Virginia Baptist Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling $82,500 to 50 recipients from across Virginia, it has announced.
The Foundation hosted its fifth annual scholarship recognition ceremony recently at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center.
“We have the privilege of connecting Virginia Baptist students who need help financing their educations with generous Virginia Baptists who choose to invest in their future,” said Ann Brown of Gretna, Va., chair of the Foundation’s scholarship committee. “It is a joy to meet scholarship recipients and donors and to see them meet and appreciate each other."
The recipients were chosen from a pool of over 150 applicants attending 51 academic institutions and representing 89 churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia.
“Our selection process seeks to discern and affirm the best of the best among the youth and leaders in our BGAV churches,” said Ronald Hall, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “I am thankful to our donors who have provided the financial support that enables us to award these scholarships.”
The Foundation also named nine Legacy Scholars for their academic achievement and service excellence. These include the Starkey A. & Edna C. Evans Legacy Scholars (Nicholas M. Taylor and Jeffrey M. Walton); the Jesse G. & Irma T. Owen Legacy Scholars (Joshua G. Beeler, Kristen M. Duncan, Mary E. Foust and Caleb A. Vass); the Elizabeth S. and A. Ray Pentecost Jr. Legacy Scholar (Victoria M. Cox); the Doris H. Rayhill Legacy Scholar (Dianna L. Robison); and the Rudolph M. Wood Legacy Scholar (Allison M. Nichols).
Scholarship recipients include:
Undergraduate: Lizzie H. Allen, Rocky Mount; Heather L. Bailey, North Tazwell; Rachel E. Bailey, Fredericksburg; Victoria M. Cox, Chatham; Samantha K. Davis, Montpelier; Brooke A. Fillmore, Appalachia; Emily M. Gaines, Charlottesville; Haven L. Headley, Tappahannock; Daro D. Ing, Henrico; Amy C. Irving, South Hill; Amy W. Jeffreys, Salem; Linsey E. Jenkins, Kenbridge; Bailie N. Jones, Chesterfield; Jacob R. King, Spotsylvania; Emma K. Kiser, Honaker; Ashley S. McHaney, Gladys; Ben R. McNew, Emporia; Katlyn N. Moss, Farnham; Anna M. Moxley, Bluefield; Katherine M. Nelson, Ewing; Allison M. Nichols, Montpelier; Ian J. Pegram, Glen Allen; Brittany V. Ratliff, Gate City; Dianna L. Robinson, Richmond; Brennan M. Scott, Mechanicsville; John P. Schubel, Fredericksburg; Leah C. Schubel, Fredericksburg; Anna K. Turnmire, Mouth of Wilson; Julia K. Wallace, Virginia Beach; Lauren M. Wallace, Virginia Beach; Kari E. Washburn, Waynesboro; Matthew W. Wheeler, Chilhowie; Jennifer L. Woodruff, Mechanicsville; Philip L. Wyatt, Jr., St. Stephens Church.
Graduate: Joshua G. Beeler, Portsmouth; Anne P. Cox, Danville; Kristen M. Duncan, Virginia Beach; Mary E. Foust, Richmond; Julie E. Gaines, Richmond; Kristen E. Koger, Chesapeake; Cameron P. Lee, Midlothian; Katherine L. Long, Charlottesville; James W. McNeal, Richmond; Andrew A. Pfeiffer, Richmond; Abel G. Sanchez, Appomattox; Amy B. Scott, Mechanicsville; Lauren A. Simpkins, St. Stephens Church; Nicholas W. Taylor, Newport News; Caleb A. Vass, Floyd; Jeffery M. Walton, Richmond
The scholarship recipients represent a myriad of public and private educational institutions, academic majors and have an average grade point average of 3.88; 32 percent of the recipients have a GPA of 4.0 or higher. The recipients also include four sets of siblings and 17 repeat recipients from last year.
“The scholarship program is an important part of what we do at Virginia Baptist Foundation,” said David Fairchild, chair of the Foundation’s board. “We are honored to have so many outstanding applicants each year. This year’s recipients have outstanding records of accomplishment and we are blessed that donors have had the foresight to help them pursue their dreams.”
Scholarship applications for the 2012-13 academic year will be available on the Foundation’s website beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Click here to view a PowerPoint presentation of this year’s scholarship recipients.
Robert Dilday ([email protected]) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.