Basic Eligibility
To apply for any Educational Foundation scholarship, you must meet minimum criteria:
- Have a current minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
- Be a high school graduate or have a GED.
- High school seniors may apply if attending Virginia Western upon graduation.
If awarded a scholarship, the recipient must:
- be enrolled in at least six (6) credits in the semester of award, unless the criteria for the scholarship being offered requires that the recipient be enrolled in more. Note: Full-time enrollment is equal to 12 or more credits.
- maintain the criteria for the scholarship at the end of the semester of initial award to receive award in the following semester if the scholarship is renewable.
Some scholarships may have specific requirements such as GPA, program of study, residency or financial need.
Who should apply for an Educational Foundation scholarship?
You should apply if you are enrolled in or plan to enroll in a minimum of 6 credits for the upcoming Fall semester at Virginia Western Community College, with a minimum 2.0 GPA. It is important to note that a scholarship may require that you be enrolled in more than six credits. If a scholarship requires that you be full-time, then you must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits.
Types of Scholarships
Virginia Western Educational Foundation scholarships are established by generous donors. The scholarships are based on academic merit, financial need and program of study. For a list of scholarships that the Educational Foundation currently maintains, please visit our main page.
Virginia Western offers a variety of scholarships, including:
- Merit-based scholarships (academic achievement)
- Program-specific scholarships
- Need-based scholarships
- Scholarships for leadership and community service
- Scholarships for returning adult learners
- Foundation and donor-funded scholarships
Are Educational Foundation scholarships available in summer?
No, Educational Foundation scholarships are only available for fall and spring semesters.
What expenses will be covered by an Educational Foundation scholarship?
Scholarship funds are most commonly used to cover tuition and fees, but funds may also be used to cover books or other allowable expenses as stated in your Scholarship Agreement.
How to Apply
No FAFSA/VASA Needed for Most Scholarships
You do not need to complete a FAFSA or VASA to apply for most Virginia Western scholarships. Our General Scholarship Application considers a variety of factors, including academic achievement, program of study, leadership, service and personal circumstances.
You do not need to submit any information to the Office of Financial Aid for the purpose of applying for Educational Foundation scholarships.
I don’t qualify for financial aid, should I still apply?
Absolutely! Scholarships are available for academic excellence and/or financial need. We award scholarships to students who demonstrate financial need but may or may not qualify for financial aid.
Have These 3 Items on Hand
1. Unofficial Transcript
You will need to upload a copy of your most recent unofficial transcript.
How to obtain your unofficial transcript (Virginia Western Students)
If you are a new student, you may upload your most recent high school transcript or your transcript from your previous college.
2. References
In addition to answering all questions on the scholarship application, scholarship applicants must provide the names and email addresses of 3 persons (not family or friends) to serve as references.
What we’re looking for:
- Individuals who can speak to your academic ability, character, work ethic, or leadership
- Examples: teachers, professors, employers, supervisors, coaches or community leaders
- Avoid listing family members and friends
Who should provide a reference for me?
If you are a current student, at least one recommendation MUST come from a Virginia Western instructor, academic advisor or a success coach. If you have never attended Virginia Western, you may ask former teachers, volunteer supervisors, employers or work colleagues to provide recommendations. Please note, recommendations by relatives/family members are not acceptable.
A link to the online reference questionnaire is sent to the three (3) persons you list on the application. When you finish and submit the application, they will receive an email notifying them that they are being asked to provide a reference for you. They will do so by clicking on the link provided in the message, which will take them to an online questionnaire.
And remember, ALWAYS GET PERMISSION from the person before using their name as a reference.
Be sure to notify your references in advance so they are prepared to respond if contacted.
3. Statement Questions
You will complete short-answer statement questions as part of the application. This is your opportunity to share your goals, experiences, and how a scholarship would impact your educational journey.
- Responses should be thoughtful and specific
- Answer each question fully
- Minimum 500/maximum 1,000 characters per question
Question 1. Why is going to college important to you? Detail your commitment to your chosen field of study. How would receiving this scholarship help you achieve your goals? How have your life experiences influenced why you want to go to college and/or what you want to study?
Question 2: Describe a time you worked hard toward a goal and what you learned from that experience. How did you grow? What challenges/obstacles did you encounter? How will this help you in the future?
Completing the Application
You will complete one online application and be automatically matched with scholarships, based on questions you answer about yourself while applying. You do not have to apply for specific scholarships, just complete the online application once.
In applying you will be asked to create a user profile that is different from your Virginia Western Community College log-in.
There are 2 parts of the application:
- Part 1 General Application (Profile)
- Part 2 General Scholarship Application
Steps to Apply:
- Complete the General Scholarship Application (available March 1 – May 1).
- Upload your unofficial transcript.
- Provide reference information.
- Submit your completed application before May 1.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
When is the Educational Foundation Scholarship deadline?
The Educational Foundation scholarship application opens March 1 of every year and closes May 1, for scholarships funding the following academic year (fall/spring).
How long will it take to complete the scholarship application?
Once you collect the required documents, the scholarship application will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
After You Apply
After submitting the general scholarship application, you may be prompted to complete additional supplemental questions to be considered for certain scholarships. Please review and complete any follow-up questions that appear in your scholarship portal to ensure you are eligible for all opportunities.
How are recipients selected and notified?
Scholarship recipients are selected by the Virginia Western Educational Foundation Scholarship & Grants Committee using a competitive award process. Recipients of the scholarships will be notified of their award in an email from the Educational Foundation. Students who apply for, but do not receive, a scholarship may still be eligible for loans, grants or scholarships from federal, state and other sources. Please contact the Virginia Western Financial Aid Office at 1-855-874-6690 for more information regarding loans and/or grants.
If I receive an Educational Foundation scholarship, how will I receive the funds?
If you are awarded a scholarship, that amount will be credited to your Virginia Western student account.
What are the conditions regarding the use of scholarship awards?
Scholarship funds may be used only for tuition, books and supplies required for courses taken at Virginia Western Community College during the semester awarded. Specific use will be stated in the scholarship criteria in the Scholarship Agreement which the recipient reviews and agrees to online. Scholarship awards are not transferable to other colleges.
Who can I contact if I have a question about the scholarship process?
For more information you can contact the Scholarship and CCAP Coordinator:
Annie Fentress
afentress@virginiawestern.edu
540-857-6371
Contact Us
Fishburn Hall – F214
540-857-7312
Fax: 540-857-6370
TTY: 800-855-2880 All users: 711
Mailing Address:
3093 Colonial Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
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