More than $390,000 launches TCFHR scholarship winners into fall studies
Forty-five students were awarded scholarships this year from The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. Awards total $393,000, with thousands more dollars going out to more than 30 recipients of renewable scholarships based on academic performance.
Seventeen Valley high schools were represented among the recipients. Turner Ashby was well-represented, with seven recent graduates earning top awards and an additional four juniors being named to the Brighter Futures mentoring program.
TCFHR offered 28 scholarships this year, with nine of those scholarships offering awards to multiple students. The awards range from tuition for one class at Massanutten Technical Center to $10,000 a year for four years to a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Recipients are selected by committee members comprised of 100 Valley community members. Students from 22 Valley high schools can apply. A few scholarships are open to local students attending area community colleges and universities.
Below are the 2025 recipients:
Arthur John Leavenworth – Eureka Lodge #195 Scholarship ($500)
- Clay Shantz, Turner Ashby
- Kaylee Dolan, Fort Defiance
Brighter Future Mentoring Award ($750)
- Abigail Floyd, Broadway
- Kayla Mata, Turner Ashby
- Natasha Nikitchuk, Turner Ashby
- Daniela Santos Lopez, Turner Ashby
- Leylani Espinoza, Turner Ashby
Claude and Frances Warren Scholarship ($5,000)
- Mason Smith, Harrisonburg
Community College Transfer Scholarship ($8,000 for 2 years/$16,000 total)
- Love Joshi
Debi Emrich Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
- Claire Mathias, Broadway
Dennis R. and Patricia R. Early Scholarship ($4,000/4 years/$16,000 total)
- Benjamin Tomei, Spotswood
Early Ace Scholarship ($7,000/4 years/$28,000)
- Evan Day, Waynesboro
- Jackson Amaya, Harrisonburg
- Ashley Chavez Gomez, Harrisonburg
- Kevin Ruiz, Rocktown
Emory & Henry College Scholarship ($2,000/4 years/$8,000 total)
- Beau Baylor, Turner Ashby
Fund for Education Scholarship ($5,000)
- Jade McCarley, Madison County
- Abigail Brown, Eastern View
Harold & Faye Teer Scholarship
- Monica Espinoza-Martine, Rocktown ($10,000/4 years/$40,000 total)
- Bryan Sagastume, Harrisonburg ($6,000/4 years/$24,000)
Laymon H. and Ruth S. Lantz Scholarship ($1,000)
- Grace Tuttle, EMU MA in Counseling program
Leo Slusher Award ($2,500)
- James Vincell, Pendleton
Mark & Kimberly Vocational Scholarship ($1,200)
- Getsemany Pineda, Turner Ashby
- Cai Johnstone-Yellin, Turner Ashby
Luis A. Mendez, Jr. Scholarship ($2,000)
- Brett Eye, Turner Ashby
Marion James & Anna Ressler Hess Memorial Scholarship (for Oxford, PA students)
- Rebecca Powell ($2,000)
- Riley Fitzgerald ($1,000)
Andy King Memorial Scholarship ($2,000)
- Brieanna Moreland, James Wood
HEF – Gregory S. Kuykendall Memorial Scholarship ($1,000/4 years/$4,000)
- Andrew Lankford, Turner Ashby
Just One Scholarship ($1,000)
- Legacy Wright
Bev Good Memorial Scholarship ($1,000)
- David Gipson, Spotswood
Randy Michie Memorial Scholarship ($3,000)
- Ryleigh Fix, William Monroe
Matthew Mahnesmith Memorial Scholarship ($4,000)
- Matthew Bailey, Waynesboro
Ronnie Brunk Memorial Scholarship ($640)
- Taha Abdulrahman, MTC
Samuel R. Bowman II Endowed Scholarship for BRCC ($2,ooo/2 years/$4,000 total)
- Anahi Reyes Hernandez, Turner Asbhy
- Bryan Sagastume, Harrisonburg
- Camila Suarez Nunez, East Rockingham
Samuel R. Bowman II Endowed Scholarship for JMU
- Fernando Sagastume, BRCC and Harrisonburg ($4,000/2 years/$8,000)
- Brisel Valdez, Turner Ashby ($3,700/4 years/$14,800)
Society of Seniors Foundation Scholarship ($2,500/4 years/$10,000 total)
- Thomas Kittler, Broughton HS
Steve May Runner of the Year Award ($1,000)
- Kaedon Howley, Harrisonburg
W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship ($5,000/4 years/$20,000 total)
- Ayla Janney, Broadway
- Clay Shantz, Turner Ashby
- Taylor Leland, Central
- Sarah Craun, Turner Ashby
