Community Foundation Scholarships - The Community Foundation

Andy King Memorial Scholarship (Agriculture majors)

In great honor and memory of Anderson, “Andy” King, the purpose of this scholarship is to support graduating high school seniors planning to pursue a Bachelor’s degree with a college major in the field of agriculture. Andy and his wife, Amy, both enjoyed careers in the Agricultural field, although neither grew up on a family farm. It is Amy’s hope that this scholarship will support students who also found their way into the agricultural field.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Strong academic standing
Demonstrated financial need
Active extracurricular involvement
Eligible candidates will be graduating seniors from public schools in the following counties in Virginia: Albemarle, Augusta, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren

Arthur John Leavenworth - Eureka Lodge #195 Scholarship (TA or FDHS)

Arthur John Leavenworth

The Arthur John Leavenworth – Eureka Lodge #195 Scholarship was created by Rhonda Leavenworth Johnson in honor of her father, a longtime member of Eureka Lodge #195 in Bridgewater. He contributed money personally to this scholarship and was known to crush and recycle aluminum cans to increase the funds available to donate to needy students.

This fund provides two scholarships each year for one student from Turner Ashby High School and one student from Fort Defiance High School. Awards are based primarily on student essay and financial need. Eligible candidates will be attending a Virginia college or university.

Bev Good Memorial Scholarship (Track & Field)

Bev Good was a respected and admired track official who invested a lifetime developing and working with student athletes. He was well known not only locally, but throughout the Mid-Atlantic for his service as a track and field meet referee and official. His passion and commitment to excellence inspired all who knew him.

The Bev Good Memorial Scholarship, endowed by Debbie and Joe Showker, allows his legacy to live on. Head coaches at each high school in Augusta and Rockingham counties and the cities of Waynesboro, Staunton and Harrisonburg may nominate one track athlete. The selection committee considers each student’s character, determination, self-motivation and sportsmanship during competition.

(An application must be submitted by a track coach or athletic director, on behalf of the track athlete.)

Claude & Frances Warren Scholarship (HHS athletes)

Claude E. Warren was devoted to athletics. From 1932 through 1971, he was the face of athletics at Harrisonburg High School, coaching football, basketball, baseball, and track from 1932 until the early 1960s. He then continued as a physical education teacher and athletic director until his retirement in 1971. Coach Warren was known for his belief in fundamentals and high standards of personal conduct.

This financial aid scholarship was established to support Harrisonburg High School graduating senior athletes as they pursue a college degree. Eligible candidates will be student athletes planning to compete at the college level, and/or to pursue a degree in an athletic related field of study (athletic training, athletic coaching, health administration, health education, physical education, kinesiology, etc.).

Community College Transfer Scholarship (MGCC, BRCC, or LRCC transfers)

This scholarship was established to support students from BRCC , LRCC, or MGCC who have earned an Associate Degree, or completed the transfer program, and have been accepted to attend a Virginia public college or university.

This award is not for graduating high school seniors, completing an Associate Degree with a high school diploma.

Students must demonstrate financial need and be working toward a bachelor’s degree in the areas of Science, Engineering, or Business, with a full-time course load. Part-time work experience during college is highly valued.

Debi Emrich Memorial Scholarship (Education majors)

Debi Emrich was a beloved educator in Rockingham County, Virginia. She had a passion for teaching, and for encouraging the students she taught. Debi was an enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer at Broadway High School, as her children attended there. For all who knew her, she was a visible example of the importance of hard work and perseverance to achieve your goals.

This scholarship supports graduating seniors from Broadway High School who are continuing their studies with a major in education or early childhood development. The purpose of this scholarship is to support aspiring educators to carry on Debi’s love of life and passion for teaching students.

Eligible candidates may be pursuing an Associate degree or a Bachelor’s degree. This is not a merit-based award, but candidates must be in good academic standing and exhibit school and community involvement.

Dennis & Patricia Early Scholarship (STEM)

Dennis and Patricia Early have dedicated their lives to education and to encouraging and supporting students in every way. They taught multiple generations of the same families in Rockingham County. Patricia taught biology and chemistry and Dennis taught math.

This scholarship supports graduates of Rockingham County public high schools interested in studying math or science, or in becoming a K-12 math or science teacher. Candidates may pursue other career paths related to math and science. Eligible students for this scholarship will be qualified graduating RCPS seniors who plan to attend Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, James Madison University, or Eastern Mennonite University.

Diane & Thomas Perry Scholarship (Business, Education or Science majors)

Diane & Tom Perry

This scholarship was established to support current graduating seniors from public high schools in the city of Harrisonburg, and the counties of Rockingham, Page and Shenandoah, who plan to attend a four-year Virginia public college or university to further their education.

This scholarship will be awarded to students planning to work toward a bachelor’s degree with a science/pre-med, business or education major. An eligible candidate must be graduating from one of the following school systems: Harrisonburg City, Rockingham County, Page County, or Shenandoah County.

Eligible candidates must be accepted and plan to attend a Virginia public college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree, with demonstrated financial need, first generation status, strong academic performance, character and drive to succeed with leadership qualities.

Early Ace Scholarship (Business, Engineering or Science majors)

This scholarship was established to support graduating seniors from public high schools in the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and the counties of Rockingham, Augusta, Shenandoah, Page, and Rockbridge who plan to attend a four-year Virginia public college or university.

Eligible candidates must be Federal Pell Grant eligible, and must be planning to work toward a bachelor’s degree with a science, engineering, or business major. Some part-time work experience during high school is required. First-generation students are encouraged to apply.

Emory & Henry University Scholarship

The Emory & Henry University Scholarship was established by alumni, David W. Driver, to support Harrisonburg & Rockingham County students attending his alma mater. Eligible candidates will be graduating high school seniors in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, or Augusta County, Virginia.

This scholarship will be awarded annually for qualified Emory & Henry University student(s) and based on the following criteria: 2.5 minimum GPA, demonstration of good character, determination, self-motivation, leadership qualities and community involvement.

Fund for Education Scholarship (Culpeper & Madison counties)

The Fund for Education Scholarship provides a financial award for students from Madison County High School, Culpeper County High School and/or Eastern View High School, all of whom plan to attend an accredited college or university after high school graduation. The scholarship will provide support for tuition, room & board, and fees.

The following will be considered when evaluating eligible applications:

Academic performance – This award is not necessarily for the best student who will qualify for other merit-based scholarships, but rather for the average student in good academic standing.
Financial need
Student’s character, determination and work ethic

Harold & Faye Teer Scholarship (1st Generation)

Harold and Faye Teer, both James Madison University Professors Emeriti, know firsthand the difficulties in affording higher education. Faye was the first in her family to attend college. Both Harold and Faye struggled to afford college in a time when expenses were not nearly as high as they are today.

Wishing to assist today’s students who need financial help to attend college, Drs. Harold and Faye Teer established this scholarship for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area high school students who will be the first in their family to complete a college education. This financial aid scholarship is renewable as long as the recipient maintains a 2.5 GPA and successfully completes at least 12 academic credit hours each semester.

Scholarships are awarded to first-generation students based primarily on financial need, but also on a student’s character, determination, self-motivation, and leadership qualities as well as academic record. Students are eligible to apply regardless of citizenship status.

Laymon & Ruth Lantz Scholarship (EMU Graduate Counseling or Seminary)

The Laymon H. & Ruth S. Lantz Scholarship is a memorial award that supports training for qualified graduate students who plan to attend Seminary or the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Eastern Mennonite University.

This scholarship will be awarded on a competitive basis to a student admitted to either program for the following academic year, or to a student who is currently in good standing in either program. Awards are based on academic excellence, financial need, the student’s sense of calling for the human service field as demonstrated by community or other involvement.

Leo Slusher Award (PCHS)

The Leo Slusher Award was established to honor the memory of Robert “Leo” Slusher, an individual who was integrally involved serving the Pendleton County community. Leo was very involved in the Lions Club, founded the local Relay for Life event, and earned the Pendleton County Service Award. He established the athletic booster club at Pendleton County High School, volunteering for many years in its concession stand. To honor his many years of service to the sports community at the school, the athletic fields at the school are named for him.

This scholarship supports Pendleton County High School graduating seniors pursuing additional education at a college/university, or a trade or vocational school. Consideration will be given to the student’s interest/participation in athletics, community service involvement, and academic record in good standing.

Little Swiss Educational Scholarship (Highland High School)

For Seniors or Recent HHS Graduates:

The Little Swiss Educational Scholarship is a $1,000 renewable scholarship for students pursuing post-secondary education.

Scholarship criteria includes:

Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum high school attendance record: 90%
Must be a resident of Highland County since at least the 9th grade
Earned admission to any accredited public or private post-secondary school
Must show how the family has planned ahead to share the financial responsibility of higher education

Luis A. Mendez, Jr. Scholarship (Arts or Music Education majors)

This scholarship honors the memory of Luis Mendez, a gifted pianist that performed with legendary entertainers, big bands and musicians from his early days in the U.S. Army and over the next six decades. While he loved to play music, his passion in life was to share his talent as a music educator. Luis impacted the lives of countless individuals throughout his 50 years of teaching choral and instrumental music in El Paso, Texas; Mansfield, Ohio; and Polk County, Florida. Humble, witty and kind, Luis loved his students and maintained relationships with many of them throughout his entire lifetime.

This scholarship supports graduating seniors of Harrisonburg City and Rockingham County high schools who are pursuing a college degree with aspirations to teach in the music or arts field. Strong consideration will be given to eligible applicants that demonstrate significant community involvement.

Marion James & Anna Ressler Hess Memorial Scholarship (Education majors)

The family of Marion James and Anna Viola Ressler Hess established this scholarship in 2003. Mrs. Hess worked as the secretary to the principal of Oxford Area High School for 21 years, from 1957 until 1978. Anna Hess had always wanted to be a teacher but was unable to afford a four-year college education. They were both supporters of education, and in particular, Oxford Area High School.

This merit scholarship award is for a graduate of Oxford Area High School planning to attend a four-year college and aspiring to pursue a career in teaching. Financial need is not a criteria for this award.

Matthew Mahnesmith Memorial Scholarship (WHS)

The Matthew Mahnesmith Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 to support post-secondary educational scholarships for qualifying high school students at Waynesboro High School, in Waynesboro, Virginia.

Randy and Kathy Mahnesmith created the scholarship in memory of their son Matthew Mahnesmith. This scholarship is to be awarded to a student who possesses the character traits of compassion, caring and sensitivity that exemplify the spirit of Matthew. Teachers of Waynesboro High School will identify and submit nominations of students possessing these qualities.

Nominations will be submitted by faculty members to the Waynesboro High School Guidance Department.

Mark & Kimberly Vocational Scholarship

Mark Price & Kimberly Jo Price Lapsley

This scholarship was established by Joseph Price in memory of his children, Mark Hamilton Price (TA Class of 1982) and Kimberly Jo Price Lapsley (TA Class of 1991).

The purpose of this scholarship is to support students graduating from Turner Ashby High School, pursuing vocational education, who plan to attend Massanutten Technical Center, Blue Ridge Community College, or another similar school.

Northeast Neighborhood Endowed Scholarship

This fund supports post-secondary educational scholarships for graduating high school seniors who currently live in the Northeast Neighborhood community of Harrisonburg, Virginia. Eligible candidates must demonstrate the following:

Financial need
Good academic standing
Full-time enrollment
Strong character, determination, self-motivation, and leadership qualities

Randy Michie Memorial Scholarship (WMHS)

The Randy Michie Memorial Scholarship was created in 2012 in memory of Randy Michie. Randy passed away in 2011 after a bout with cancer. During his career at William Monroe High School, he coached two state golf championship teams and two state basketball championship teams, but more than that, he touched the lives of hundreds of students through the years. He personally helped many pursue their college degrees. Randy’s widow, Denise, established the Randy Michie Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Greene County area high school students.

Awards are based on financial need, participation in an athletic team in any capacity or participation in other school extracurricular activities, and a student’s character, determination, and leadership qualities.

Contact the Guidance Office at William Monroe High School to obtain an application.

Ronnie Brunk Memorial Scholarship (Vocational at MTC)

The Ronnie Brunk Memorial Scholarship honors the life and legacy of Ronald D. Brunk. A 34-year veteran of the HVAC industry in the Shenandoah Valley, Ronnie mentored many individuals at the start of and throughout their professional careers. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing careers in the industry in hopes of increasing proficiency among future technicians as well as filling the vacant need of skilled workers.

Applicants must be adult students, at least 18 years of age. In addition, they must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, and planning to enroll at Massanutten Technical School in electrical, machinist, HVAC, plumbing, building trades, or welding courses.

Eligible candidates must reside in Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, or surrounding counties.

We are not accepting applications for this scholarship until 12/1/2027.

Samuel R. Bowman II Endowed Scholarship (BRCC or JMU)

Mr. Bowman endowed this scholarship at his death to help educate local students. Mr. Bowman spent his life in agriculture, developing long and trusted relationships with his employees. His admiration for their work ethic influenced his commitment to helping youth succeed, knowing the key to the kind of success he hoped for them is through higher education.

This scholarship supports students with demonstrated financial need attending James Madison University or Blue Ridge Community College. Consideration is given to the student’s academic performance, character, and determination. Candidates must attend high school in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County.

We are not accepting applications for this scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year.

Society of Seniors Foundation Scholarship

The Society of Seniors Foundation Scholarship was created to provide need-based scholarships to children of full-time employees at the various clubs that so generously host the Society of Seniors tournaments each year.

Scholarships are awarded based on the following criteria:

demonstrated financial need
leadership qualities
academic performance

Steve May Runner of the Year Award (HHS or RHS Track)

This award honors former Harrisonburg High School track & field coach Steve May. Coach May’s tenure at Harrisonburg High School spanned from 1971-2005. A beloved and devoted track & field coach, his presence at Harrisonburg High School impacted the lives of thousands of young people.

A committee of former Harrisonburg City Public School track athletes, or individuals coached by Steve May, will review nominations, based on the athletic performance of the schools’ runners. Nominations will be submitted by high school outdoor track, indoor track and cross-country coaches at Harrisonburg City Public Schools. The committee will select a recipient for the award each year.

(An application must be submitted by a track coach or cross-country coach on behalf of the runner.)

Trackaday Scholarship (HBCU)

This scholarship supports students attending historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Eligible candidates must have been accepted to a HBCU or be currently attending a HBCU as either an undergraduate student, graduate student, or doctoral candidate, and have graduated from a public high school in Harrisonburg City and Rockingham, Page or Shenandoah County.

Virginia Ready Initiative Scholarship (Vocational at BRCC, MTC, or VC&TC)

The purpose of the Virginia Ready Initiative Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to adult students, seeking career readiness skills, connecting them to family sustaining career opportunities.

Virginia Ready Initiative Scholarships, awarded by The Community Foundation of Harrisonburg & Rockingham County, will support adult learners in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and surrounding Virginia counties, pursuing post-secondary education in the form of credentials specific to the following industries:

IT/Tech
Healthcare
Skilled trades

Virginia Ready Scholarships will be awarded for academic terms in 2025 – 2027.

W.P. & T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship (Agriculture majors)

Bill & Thelma Phillips

The W.P. and T.M. Phillips Memorial Scholarship was established by Mrs. Thelma M. Phillips in memory of her late husband, William “Bill” Phillips, to honor his love of farming. Thelma and Bill spent a lifetime together enjoying farm life and working in agribusiness.

The purpose of this scholarship is to support students who are pursuing a college degree in the field of agriculture. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to students who graduate from any public high school in Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, or Harrisonburg City.

Consideration will be given to the student’s academic record, chosen college major, leadership qualities, and involvement in activities related to agriculture.

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