Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program » higher education virginia

Charlottesville’s Promise: 10 Years and Going Strong

Gail Hyder Wiley — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:27:47 +0000

Because 10 years ago Charlottesville City Council made a promise to our low- and moderate-income public school graduates that money would be available for their higher education goals, the Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program came into existence. Now generous donors and hard-working volunteers keep the promise alive for our city citizens and employees. Plans are now afoot for an anniversary celebration that will help meet that promise in even more significant ways. Will you join us?

“Charlottesville’s Promise 2011 Gala” will be held at the Paramount on Oct. 29.

Save the date and stay tuned for more information. Even better, contact Lainie Rainwater at scholars@cvillescholarship.com to get involved.

CCSP Salutes Its 2011 College Graduates

Gail Hyder Wiley — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:36:48 +0000

The board of directors of the Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program, on behalf of all Charlottesville citizens and donors to the CCSP who value higher education, expresses hearty congratulations to the following CCSP scholarship recipients who have completed their undergraduate education:

Yarden Batson, George Mason

Christopher Covington, Virginia Tech

Corinne Durrette, Temple

Luke Neer, U.Va.

“Job well done!”

Shaniece Bradford 2011 CCSP Scholar

Gail Hyder Wiley — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:35:52 +0000

Shaniece Bradford wants to study criminal justice in college. Her goal is to become an FBI agent. While in high school, she has been a clerk at the Goodwill store in Charlottesville, working 20 hours a week while maintaining a strong grade point average. Shaniece is a motivated, engaged student who also is a member of the sideline cheerleading squad.

The Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program is proud to be able to honor Charlottesville’s promise by supporting Shaniece in her quest for higher education.

James Dowell 2011 CCSP Scholarship Recipient

Gail Hyder Wiley — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:54:00 +0000

James Dowell plans to study marketing in college. He wants to use that degree to come back to work at the John Paul Jones Arena, where he currently works with the street team marketing department. James will be the first member of his family to attend college and his high school counselor says he has what it takes to make his dream come true.

The Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program is proud to be able to honor Charlottesville’s promise by supporting James in his quest for higher education.

Champrea Frye 2011 CCSP Scholarship Recipient

Gail Hyder Wiley — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:05:20 +0000

Champrea Frye plans to study nursing. Her goal is to become a pediatric nurse practitioner. Champrea has participated in many extracurricular activities at Charlottesville High School, including the National Honor Society and the National Society of Black Engineers. She also is very active in the youth program at Zion Union Baptist Church.

The Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program is proud to be able to honor Charlottesville’s promise by supporting Champrea in her quest for higher education.

Charlottesville Community Scholarship Applications Due March 1

Gail Hyder Wiley — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 04:45:53 +0000

Dreaming of your chance at higher education? If you’re a Charlottesville High School senior this year, you may have already received a CCSP scholarship application from Ms. Kay Ruffner. If you’re an adult 25 years of age or greater, see if you meet our eligibility requirements in our “Applications” section. All the forms are available on our website. If you’re eligible for a CCSP scholarship, give it a shot. We’d love to hear from you.

Current CCSP scholars, remember your deadline to renew your scholarship for the fall semester is also March 1.

Best wishes to you all.

CCSP’s Newest Scholarship Recipients

Gail Hyder Wiley — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:22:12 +0000

Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program’s Most Recent Scholars

Tara Ingram, Edem Tatteh, Stephanie Patterson

The Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program is very pleased to announce its inaugural class of adult scholarship recipients. Tara Ingram, Edem Tatteh, and Stephanie Patterson all applied for scholarship assistance in the CCSP’s first fall application period for adults 25 years of age or greater. We wish them much success as they continue their studies. The next application deadline is March 1, for all resident graduating seniors in the Charlottesville public school system and for resident adult graduates of city schools, as well as for employees of the city, including the school system.

Originally from Turkey, Tara came to the United States 12 years ago, after working in the U.S. General Consulate office in Istanbul, where she polished her English. In 2009, she taught Turkish language classes at U.Va. After working as a substitute teacher in the Charlottesville schools over the past two years, she has decided to become a school counselor. “I strongly believe that I have a talent to reach children at any age.” She intends to earn a master’s degree in counseling after finishing her bachelor’s degree at Mary Baldwin College, with help from CCSP. “This scholarship is such an uplifting energy,” she notes. “I don’t look at it as just a sum of money. It helps me get up and go.”

Edem is from the small West African nation of Togo (slightly smaller than West Virginia, with a population of approximately 6.7 million), where French is the official language. With English as his second language, Edem received a visa to attend college in America. He works in housekeeping at the Omni Hotel on the Downtown Mall and is studying engineering at PVCC because of his “good skills in math and physics.”

Stephanie loves children. She has seven children of her own (ages 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 11, and 9) and spends her work hours supporting children with special needs as a teaching assistant at Jackson Via Elementary School. “Sometimes I feel like being at work is a break because I’m so busy with my own kids when I’m home,” she says. Stephanie is completing the final courses she needs to enroll in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) program at the University of Virginia, with the ultimate goal of becoming a special education teacher.

If you’d like to help the CCSP continue this important work, you can contact the CCSP board at scholars@cvillescholarship.com, follow us on Twitter (CvilleCSP) and Facebook, donate, and encourage a potential scholar to apply. Our next deadline is March 1.

A Note of Thanks from a Successful Scholar–Chef Ralph Brown

Gail Hyder Wiley — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:41:06 +0000

Rev. Ralph Brown

“Thank you and the Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program for your support and encouragement over the past few years. In 2009 I successfully completed required classes with high marks at PVCC, classes that were transferred to Bluefield College, where I received a bachelor of science degree in December 2010.”

That’s the start of a heartwarming note from Ralph Brown Sr. to Mary Jane King, Piedmont Virginia Community College administrator and Charlottesville Community Scholarship Program scholarship committee chair. A recent recipient of CCSP funding to further his education, Rev. Brown is a Pentecostal minister, a chef, and a recently minted Bluefield College graduate, having received his bachelor’s degree in organizational management and development in December 2010. The CEO and president of RBC Institute, a center for faith-based and community learning located in Charlottesville, Chef Brown has taught many classes on safe food handling. In volunteer roles, he has served this community in many ways over the years, including as a mayoral appointee to the Sister City Commission and as a Toys for Tots sponsor and volunteer.

Getting that bachelor’s degree wasn’t easy, A Vietnam-era veteran with a Veterans Administration disability rating, Rev. Brown appreciates the funding help from CCSP and credits the caring staff and instructors at PVCC with the help he needed to succeed as a student.

“With their help I learned that I was going to have put in extra time, sit closer to the front of the class, and take responsibility for making sure the instructors understood my unique situation to make the best grades possible.

“Thank you and the people of the Charlottesville for your contribution to my success.”