Scholarships in Virginia | Going Merry Scholarship Finder

Wondering how you’re going to balance college studies with extracurriculars? That’s the easy part! The hard part comes first: Figuring out how to assemble financial aid, to affording college. An important part of many student aid packages is scholarships.

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And in particular, don’t forget about local scholarships, which are often less competitive–meaning there’s a higher chance of winning that scholarship award money.

Find local and statewide scholarships on Going Merry. For example, here are just some of the great, scholarships in Virginia:

1. Elizabeth D. Stark Art Scholarship

Amount: $5,000

Provider: Kayes-Stark Family

The Elizabeth D. Stark Art scholarship honors the life of Elizabeth Stark by supporting two female-identifying or non-binary students who are pursuing degrees in art or art history. The application asks for a short essay (600 words) on the following topic: “How has art impacted your life and why do you want to continue to pursue it through education?”

2. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program

Amount: Up to $8,000

Provider: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship Program is a vital source of funding for the visual arts and art history in Virginia. VMFA is committed to supporting professional artists as well as art and art history students who demonstrate exceptional creative ability in their chosen discipline and, as such, has awarded nearly $5.8 million in Fellowships to Virginians.

The Fellowship Program was established in 1940 through a generous contribution made by the late John Lee Pratt of Fredericksburg. 2020 will mark the 80th anniversary! Offered through VMFA Statewide, Fellowships are still largely funded through the Pratt endowment, supplemented by gifts from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation and the J. Warwick McClintock Jr. Scholarship Fund.

3. Kevin T. Crofton Graduate Fellowship

Amount: Varies

Provider: Kevin T. Crofton alumnus funding

Thanks to the generous funding from alumnus Kevin T. Crofton in 2016, the Kevin T. Crofton Graduate Fellowships are offered to approximately three students each year. These are multi-year fellowships and are focused on Ph.D. students.

4. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation Scholarship

Amount: Varies

Provider: Jefferson Scholars Foundation

Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia is a place where producing leaders for a self-governing people has always been a primary goal. The Jefferson Scholars Foundation Scholarship program has been attracting and cultivating undergraduate leaders since 1980, providing them sufficient financial support so that they are free to develop their talents and to use them for the good of the University community.

5. The Swan and Sparrow Scholarship

Amount: $3,000

Provider: Community Foundation for Northern Virginia

The Swan & Sparrow Scholarship was founded in memory of famed songstress Leslie Richardson, who passed away suddenly this past year due to complications from COVID-19. She was a music lover who excelled in her field, performing for people across the world for many years. This program was created to help the next generation of music lovers to succeed in the same way as Leslie did. This scholarship is $3,000 and is available to a freshman who is attending a historically black college or university.

Still need help with financial aid and college scholarships?

We get it. Financing college tuition can be quite the process, and with so many scholarships out there, how do you know which ones to apply to? Start by submitting your FAFSA form as soon as possible since this will help determine what financial aid you might qualify for. This year, the form opens in December 2023.

Check out these Virginia scholarship application options:

Ready for even more college scholarship opportunities? Create a free Going Merry account today for access to our scholarship library, with millions of dollars in award money.

But it’s not just about access– we care about making it easy. Here’s how it works: You’ll answer a few questions to get matched with only scholarships you’re eligible for. You can then further filter or favorite scholarships, and then apply for Going Merry-specific scholarships. We’ll pre-fill information you’ve already provided, so you’ll never have to enter information twice. Now that’s efficient. Sign up here.

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Kelly Lamano

Though always a creative, Kelly's momentum into the world of writing and publishing arrived when she attended college. She quickly learned the financial value - and cost - of honing her craft, and sought scholarships that would be crucial to not only funding, but fueling her education. She wants to help new students thrive with Going Merry's easy scholarship finder. Kelly holds a bachelor's degree in Broadcast, Print and Online Media, and a minor in Spanish from Florida Southern College.

Validating Scholarships for Virginia Students for 2024