ESSAY: Community aid for college

Two years ago, responding to greater needs, this independent scholarship group became the WJC Scholarship Fund at the Williamsburg Community Foundation. With this relationship, the WJC Scholarship Fund benefits from support staff, financial oversight and audits, the establishment of an endowment, adherence to national guidelines for scholarship funds, and increased exposure.

Despite name changes over 38 years, the mission remains the same: To recognize the accomplishments of our WJC students as they graduate from high school and to support their further educational achievements at a university, community college, or vocational institution.

This year, 41 students out of an applicant pool of 151 received scholarships. The fund's longtime experience with the selection process has resulted in a finely tuned mechanism for matching students with scholarships. Students apply for a wide variety of scholarships, some with specific, non-discriminatory criteria, some for general award. Then, a selection committee evaluates each application on the basis of five criteria: difficulty of curriculum, class rank, extracurricular activities, the application essay, and financial need.

For donors who have set up Named Scholarships, students are then matched with that scholarship's specific criteria. For example, the Bruce K. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who will pursue the study of science. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation awards a scholarship at each of the three high schools to students who are employees, volunteers, or children of employees.

To honor my parents, my siblings and I funded the Ann and James Yankovich Memorial Scholarship for a student demonstrating leadership in school/community, interested in education as a field of study, with preference to first generation college students.

Scholarships are paid directly to the college or training program, not to the students themselves. And students are required to submit a handwritten thank-you note before the scholarship funds are released

For me, the beauty of the WJC Scholarship Fund is our community supporting our students. These teenagers are highly accomplished, community-minded, and many have overcome numerous obstacles to achieve admission to college. I love that our businesses and individuals appreciate our students and that, in return, our students appreciate our support.

Kathy Hornsby is the committee chair of the WJC Scholarship Fund at the Williamsburg Community Foundation.

2012 WJC?SCHOLARSHIP?RECIPIENTS

Lafayette High School

Amanda Keane (Margaret Karene O'Hare Memorial)

Levi Warring (SunTrust Bank)

Elizabeth Starbuck (Bette Williams Memorial)

Thomas Schluszas (LHS PTSA); Ava Mueller (general fund)

Katherine Utne (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Scott Gemmell-Davis (Drake Family Foundation)

Olivia Anderson (Rose P. Rose Memorial)

Sheridan Klock (general fund)

Lesa Taylor (Lion's Club of Williamsburg)

Lauren Clark (Ann & James Yankovich Memorial).

Jamestown High School

Tresa Scruggs (Kathy Yankovich Hornsby Honorary Scholarship)

Rachael Schmidt (Maggie Moyler Memorial)

Billie Meacham (Joann Bierenbaum Memorial)

Neel Ronvelia (general fund)

Kristi Vandygriff (Joann Beirenbaum Memorial)

Allanna Daniels (Drake Family Foundation)

Abigail Hunt (SunTrust Bank)

Shelby Hamm (Bruce K. Goodwin Memorial)

Derrick Bills (Martha Whyte Memorial)

Chelsie Kuhn (Ray Freed Memorial)

Tiffany Antognozzi (Kathleen O'Hare Doster Memorial)

Carson Reeher (Lauren R. Sullivan Memorial)

Katla Magnusdottir (general fund)

Jaelyn Coates (general fund)

Megan McClintock (Ray Freed Memorial)

Justin Dubois (general fund)

Emily Spong (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Paul Black (Jamestown High School PTSA).

Warhill High School

Kevin Ball (general fund)

Christy Cheesman (Andrea Sartain Memorial)

Jules Clayton (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation)

Jillian Dowdy (Rose P. Rose Memorial)

Melanie Fisher (Ray Freed Memorial)

Alexandria Gruendl (Henry S. Branscome, Sr. Memorial)

Samuel Gussman (Warhill High School Class of 2012)

Duenya Hassan (SunTrust Bank)

Christina Jones (Women's Club of Toano)

Noah Pritchard (general fund)

Connor Quigley (Geoffrey H. Boerner Memorial)

Brianne Sartain (Buon Amici)

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