Impact Stories

Scholarships

Bridging the Gap: The Impact of ‘Last Dollar’ Scholarships

October 30, 2024

Benton Fisher, a Northern Virginia local and an economic consultant at FTI Consulting, has long championed community-driven causes. Long before he founded his donor-advised fund, the Avalon Charitable Fund, with the Community Foundation, Benton was the child of a Naval officer and a Unitarian minister. This upbringing ingrained an interest in service and has shaped his philanthropic endeavors ever since. Benton’s journey toward philanthropy was further influenced by his time coaching his children in team sports, which fostered his passion for leadership and collaboration. These experiences taught him that the most meaningful rewards come from uplifting others.

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The Community Foundation Awards over $500,000 in Scholarships, Empowering 114 Students’ Educational Dreams

June 17, 2024

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $506,600 in scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year to 114 students pursuing higher education. This substantial financial support encapsulates our 35 Community Foundation scholarship funds launched by individual donors over the years wishing to make a difference for students in Northern Virginia and beyond. Together, these efforts reflect the Foundation’s commitment to fostering educational opportunities and supportive legacies throughout the region.

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Levelling the Field for College Graduates

August 15, 2023
Often, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector at large may lose sight of just how much even small, incremental investment can make a meaningful change in people’s lives. The real impact of a couple of hundred dollars on some people can be literally life changing.

Karen Lipsey and Christie Worrell became lifelong friends through their children’s friendship, and over the past few years launched the Level the Field Fund, which they moved to the Community Foundation in April 2023. This fund helps Black college seniors graduate college by paying off the relatively small account balances that may be left when commencement season arrives. In the most stark terms, the Level the Field Fund embodies the spirit of large impact with small investment: most of the awards it gives college students are a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. These gifts enable a student to get their degree and set their lives in positive motion. Level the Field’s goal is to help as many deserving students as possible graduate.

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Community Foundation Awards $551,650 in 2023 Scholarships

June 21, 2023
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to 142 students pursuing higher education. The Community Foundation’s scholarship funds are leaving positive legacies across the region and beyond. More than 50 volunteers reviewed more than 400 scholarship applications for these funds this year. In total, the Community Foundation manages 13 scholarships and administers the funds for 21 others that support Northern Virginia students. These awards range from $1,500 to greater than $6,000.

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William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship Crosses $100,000 in Awards

June 15, 2023
The William J. Foreman Memorial scholarship was launched in 2007 by Louise and Mark Foreman, to honor the memory of their son Will Foreman, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on February 24, 2006. Will had a generous heart, a loving spirit, and was drawn to helping those less fortunate than himself. He had faced personal adversity during his high school years, but successfully overcame it to graduate and begin college studies in computer science. In those seventeen years, the scholarship has awarded $100,000 to 57 students who, like Will, have overcome adversity. The Community Foundation spoke with Louise Foreman, who offered some thoughts on this remarkable and incredible achievement.

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Community Foundation Awards $488,430 in Scholarships to More than 130 Students

July 15, 2022
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded $488,430 in scholarships to more than 130 students in Northern Virginia, investing in the next generation of leaders for Northern Virginia, and beyond. These scholars were honored at a private event at Northern Virginia Community College on July 12, 2022.

The scholarships are valued between $1,500 and $5,000, with some awards renewable through all of college study. The average amount awarded was about $3,500 per student.

A full list of scholars, scholarships, and the award amounts, is available through the link below.
READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

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Community Foundation Invests in Next Generation, Awarding Nearly $500,000 in Scholarships

July 15, 2022
“We would hope that the recipient of this scholarship will have earned it so long as they have worked hard in studies, and have determination and a goal in life. That they have helped in community service like volunteer work where it is needed. The recipient will have honored their parents and have been a team working taking pride in their performance, with a willingness to help others.” -Virginia and Cameron Dye

In 2022, we’re delighted to announce that we’ve given out nearly a half a million dollars in scholarships. This represents the Community Foundation’s largest ever anything in all areas- the largest number of applicants, the largest number of scholars, donations, and awards. Each year, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia awards more than $300,000 in awards to more than 100 students seeking a higher education. Though all scholarships are different, the recipients often carry on the wishes of Virginia and Cameron Dye. These young adults seeking a higher education are already becoming generational leaders, thinkers, and doers.

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The Story of the Virginia and Cameron Dye Scholarship

June 8, 2022
Virginia Dyeedit Cameron Dyeedit
Virginia Carder Dye (1913-1982) Cameron Randolph Dye (1908-1994)
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The Virginia and Cameron and Virginia Dye Fund was created in 1994 through a $500,000 bequest to the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia to establish a scholarship fund. Its purpose is to provide scholarships to deserving students graduating form Arlington public schools and serve as a memorial to Virginia and Cameron Dye.

Cameron Randolph Dye was born and raised in the Cherrydale area of Arlington, Virginia. His immediate family consisted of his mother, father, and sister. Cameron’s father was a DC police officer and his mother spent her lifetime as a loving wife and mother.  Cameron frequently reminisced about his childhood and the many individuals who worked with him at Old Dominion Bank, then First Virginia Bank. His childhood was a very happy one. He loved his parents deeply and respected them greatly. As a young boy he had a paper route and delivered newspapers daily. Additionally, he demonstrated at an early age that he would be a very industrious person by shoveling show, cutting grass and performing odd jobs for neighbors.

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Community Foundation Opens 2022 Scholarship Season

January 12, 2022
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2022 - 2023 school year. Eligible students include high school seniors and undergraduates in Northern Virginia. Community Foundation manages 13 scholarships and administers the funds for 21 other scholarships that support Northern Virginia students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

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Growing Diversity in Civil Engineering with the christopher consultants Scholarship Fund: An interview with Bill Zink

August 19, 2021
christopher consultants of Prince William County, Virginia opened a fund last year at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia to provide scholarships to outstanding Unity Reed High School (Manassas, VA) graduates pursuing a career in civil engineering or a related field.

Bill Zink, president of christopher consultants manages the scholarship fund through the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. We recently asked Bill to share his thoughts about the importance of this philanthropic effort.

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Community Foundation Awards Over $332,500 in College Scholarships

July 14, 2021
Higher education costs and student loan debt continues to climb as a new crop of students prepare to head off to college this upcoming fall semester. The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, a leader in philanthropy in the region announced today that it has awarded more than $332,500 in college scholarships to 122 recent high school graduates and current college students to support their higher education goals in the upcoming academic school year. This year’s recipients, who were recognized for academic achievement, character, financial need, and for demonstrating good citizenship at school, at home, and in the community.

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Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund: An interview with Aaron Kinworthy

June 17, 2021

A college education gets more expensive every year. Tuitions have skyrocketed in the past decade forcing students to take on more borrowing debt to finance their higher education dreams. Here at Community Foundation one of the many scholarships available to help offset the rising cost of college is the Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund.

The fund benefits first responders and dependents of active first responders in the Northern Virginia area. Scholarship recipients receive up to $20,000 in funds spread over four years. The fund was established by Aaron Kinworthy. We asked Aaron to share some thoughts on why it’s important to create higher learning opportunities through this scholarship.

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Community Foundation Scholarships Open for High School Seniors and College Students

January 19, 2021

If you’re a high school senior or current college student looking for funds to help cover the cost of college, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is accepting applications for college scholarships for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Eligible students include high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students in Northern Virginia.

Community Foundation manages twelve scholarships and administers the funds for 18 other scholarships that support Northern Virginia students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

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Community Foundation Awards $250,000 in Scholarships to high school, college students for 2020

July 30, 2020
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia announced today that it has awarded over $250,000 in scholarships to more than one hundred area students to support their higher education goals beginning this fall. This year’s awards went to students pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees in areas like STEM, medicine, health, and education, as well as students planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College.

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2020 Scholarships Now Open

February 6, 2020

College Funds for Northern Virginia High School and College Students

(Oakton, VA) - The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has opened its scholarship applications for the 2020 – 2021 school year. The scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors in Northern Virginia, and current college students.

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Community Foundation Awards $304,040 to high school, college students for 2019

July 23, 2019
Oakton, VA – The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently awarded scholarships to 110 area students, totaling $304,040 to support their higher education goals beginning this fall. This year’s awards went to students pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees in areas like STEM, medicine, health, and education, as well as students planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College.

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Community Foundation Awards $304,040 to high school, college students for 2019

July 23, 2019
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently awarded scholarships to 110 area students, totaling $304,040 to support their higher education goals beginning this fall. This year’s awards went to students pursuing either undergraduate or graduate degrees in areas like STEM, medicine, health, and education, as well as students planning to attend Northern Virginia Community College.

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The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards $296,008 in Scholarships in 2018

July 12, 2018

Supports 93 Students in Northern Virginia

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded scholarships to 93 students, totaling $296,008 to support their continuing higher education beginning in the fall. The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia manages and administers the funds for twenty-five scholarships that support Northern Virginia students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

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The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Awards 2017 Scholarships

July 11, 2017

Students Honored at Event

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia has awarded scholarships to 89 students, totaling $304,700, to support their continuing higher education beginning in the fall. The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia manages and administers the funds for twenty-five scholarships that support Northern Virginia students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

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2016 Scholarship Award Winners

July 1, 2016
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia was pleased to award $249,625 in scholarships to 80 students in June 2016. Congratulations to all the scholarship award winners!

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