Community Foundation Celebrates 20 Years of Awarding Scholarships

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Christiansburg, Virginia; May 10, 2022: This year, the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) is celebrating 20 years of awarding scholarships to New River Valley high school and college students. In total, since 2002, the foundation has awarded more than $973,000 to college-bound students. This spring, the foundation awarded $126,706 to 85 students, which are both records for the organization.

The 2022 scholarship winners include 48 high school seniors from eight schools, with the greatest number of scholarships going to students from Floyd County High School, Blacksburg High School, and Christiansburg High School. In addition, 37 college students from 13 colleges and universities received scholarships, with the most awards going to students from Virginia Tech and Radford University, as well as two each from New River Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University. This year’s outstanding group of students also included 15 first-generation college students. To celebrate, this month the foundation will host a picnic for students, families, and donors.

“Since establishing our scholarship program, we have supported 768 students, each with unique talents and personal stories,” said Jessica Wirgau, Chief Executive Officer for the CFNRV. “They are the next generation of leaders both in and outside of the New River Valley. I know that the CFNRV’s board, our staff, and the generous donors who support these awards feel honored to play a part in each student’s journey.”

In the 20 years since the program began, donors have worked with the foundation to create 49 scholarship funds that support a wide variety of students from various geographic areas and schools in the region, career paths, majors, and other factors. The scholarship awards typically range between $500 – $4,000 for each student.

“I firmly believe that education is the best way out of poverty. That is why I am so heartened that we can give out scholarships to so many students, especially those who are the first in their family to attend college,” said Laura Pynn, who manages the CFNRV’s scholarship program. “When I came to work for the foundation, we had seven scholarship funds and now we have almost 50. It makes me proud that the program has grown so much.”

The program started with a $500 gift from Peggy and John Eaton, who created the T. Scott Eaton Scholarship Fund to fund students pursuing a degree in theater or the fine arts. Generosity from across the community from individuals, families, and businesses keeps the program growing each year.

“It was our privilege to establish the first scholarship fund in our son Scott’s name,” said Peggy Eaton, who is also a former CFNRV board member. “Now what the program is giving out is phenomenal! I am so glad to have been part of the Community Foundation since the beginning.”

A complete list of this year’s scholarship winners is below. Next year’s scholarship application cycle will open this October, with a deadline to apply in February 2023. Anyone interested in learning more about establishing a scholarship fund to support students in our region may contact the foundation at 540-381-8999 or jessicawirgau@cfnrv.org.

2022 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Floyd County High School (16)
  1. Jordan Benson, Amber Lutz Memorial Scholarship, $1,260 
  2. Jaycee Chaffin, Earl Vest & Mamie Phillips Vest Scholarship Fund, $1,500 
  3. Kenzee Chaffin, Earl Vest & Mamie Phillips Vest Scholarship Fund, $1,500 
  4. Gracenne Clinger, Auxiliary of Radford Hospital/CNRVMC Scholarship Fund, $1,500
  5. Tanya Criner, James E. & Kate H. Board Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  6. Elizabeth Finn, Citizens Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
  7. Carolyn Jones, James E. & Kate H. Board Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  8. Brooke Negron, Floyd County High School, James E. & Kate H. Board Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  9. Jaden Nichols, James E. & Kate H. Board Scholarship Fund & Mary Ann King Peters Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,500 
  10. Parker Pattishall, Earl & Mamie Phillips Vest Scholarship Fund, $1,500
  11. Keighley Tunstall, Josephine D. Shotts Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  12. Reighley Tunstall, Earl & Mamie Phillips Vest Scholarship Fund, $1,500
  13. Laura Vest, Larry Turman Scholarship Fund, $1,000
  14. Lenora Williams, Earl Vest & Mamie Phillips Vest Scholarship Fund, $1,500 
  15. Killian Woods, Williamsburg Consort Symphonic Band Scholarship Fund, $1,000
  16. Thai Yuvanavattana, Woodrow & Elma Turman Scholarship Fund, $1,100 
Blacksburg High School (11)
  1. Struan Baker, Jim Gwazdauskas Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,500 
  2. Siri Bedsaul, Chris Dudley Scholarship Fund, $1,180 
  3. Norin Bortz, T. Scott Eaton Memorial Fund, $500 
  4. Kylee Eaves, Lambda Horizon Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
  5. Abigail Fritz, Dennis Stauffer Memorial Scholarship Fund, $500 
  6. Timothy Holt, Terry Helms Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 
  7. Jacqueline Hou, June Liang Wang Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  8. Andrea Leng, Benjamin Eiss Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,620
  9. Kylene Monaghan, June Liang Wang Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  10. Zachary Swartzwelder, Blacksburg High School NHS Legacy Fund, $1,000
  11. Karen Villanueva, T. Scott Eaton Scholarship Fund, $500
Christiansburg High School (8)
  1. Sean Herndon, Doris Huff Elliott Business Excellence Scholarship, $1,250 
  2. Riley Meadows, Marcus Allan Ford Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
  3. Jessica Nwachukwu, Auxiliary of Radford Hospital/CNRVMC Scholarship Fund, $1,500
  4. Harbalbeen Rai, Adrienne Marie Rhudy Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,500
  5. Baylee Reasor, Living4Bri Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
  6. Kaylie Richmond, Marcus Allen Ford Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 
  7. Kenna Smith, VFW Post 5311 Legacy Scholarship Fund, $1,000
  8. Kayla Waters, Muffo Family Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
Auburn High School (3)
  1. Jackson Brockman, Juanita Shelor Hall Memorial Scholarship & W.F. Teel Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  2. Jocelyn DeHart, Marie Mandelstamm Scholarship Fund, $1,200 
  3. Anna McGuire, Auxiliary of Radford Hospital/CNRVMC Scholarship Fund, $1,000
Eastern Montgomery High School (3)
  1. Mackenzie Kidwell, Ray E. & Mary B. Epperly Family Fund, $1,000
  2. Ann Sisson, Ray E. & Mary B. Epperly Family Fund, $1,000 
  3. Tiffany Work, Ray E. & Mary B. Epperly Family Fund, $1,000 
Pulaski County High School (3)
  1. Arushi Arora, Jo Ann Slate Smith Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  2. Kaylee Hodge, Eric Sutphin Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,000 
  3. Dante Reid, Jo Ann Slate Smith Scholarship Fund, $2,000
Radford High School (3)
  1. Lindsey Riddle, Josephine D. Shotts Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,000
  2. Owen Saunders, Laura J. Pynn Scholarship Fund, $1,000
  3. Hampton Wohlford, Allan Mandelstamm Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
Narrows High School (1)
  1. Grace Trent, Jeremy Saunders Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,000
Virginia Tech (18)
  1. Amberly Butler, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  2. Jacob Davis, Marie Mandelstamm Scholarship Fund & A. Phillip Meadows Leadership Fund, $1,540 
  3. Taylor Fitchett, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  4. Ella Fitzgerald, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  5. Safa Ishaq, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  6. Alice Lin, RBN, Inc. Appreciation Scholarship Fund, $3,000
  7. Breanna Lytton, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  8. Caroline Miko, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  9. Seferina Olivo, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  10. Megan Phan, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  11. Morgan Ralph, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  12. Madison Roach, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  13. Sarah Rosario, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  14. Hanna Santolla, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  15. Claire Seibel, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  16. Abigail Sneska, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800 
  17. Ann Staskin, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
  18. Bailey Watson, Virginia Tech Women’s Club Scholarship Fund, $1,800
Radford University (6)
  1. Brandi Clemons, Domermuth Scholarship Fund & Virginia Whitaker Memorial Scholarship Fund, $1,500 
  2. Anna French, Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund, $700 
  3. Shaylee Gearhart, Evelyn Rutrough Memorial Scholarship Fund, $560 
  4. Tyler Gillock, Plummer Family Scholarship, $2,340 
  5. Hannah Vest, Warren Lloyd Holtzman Freedom Scholarship, $1,018 
  6. Hannah Walters, Auxiliary of Radford Hospital/CNRVMC Scholarship Fund, $1,000 
New River Community College (2)
  1. Tali O’Neil, Wings Fund, $1,110
  2. Casey Smith, Allan Mandelstamm Scholarship Fund, $1,000
Virginia Commonwealth University (2)
  1. Sal Scarpa-Friedman, Warren Lloyd Holtzman Freedom Scholarship, $1,018 
  2. Selna Shi, RBN, Inc. Appreciation Scholarship Fund, $3,000
Plus, one student each from:
  1. Megan Asbrand, University of Miami, Diana Love Instrumental Music Scholarship Fund, $1,680
  2. Cameron Gilmore, Dartmouth College, Dana R. & Marilyn Spencer Scholarship Fund, $660
  3. Lief Hurt, Southwest Virginia Community College, Wings Fund, $1,110
  4. Neal Klemba, Brown University, Kalvi Scholarship Fund, $1,000
  5. Josep Ocampo, College of William & Mary, RBN, Inc. Appreciation Scholarship Fund, $3,000
  6. Russell Shepherd, Delta State University, Ray E. & Mary B. Epperly Family Fund, $1,000 
  7. Emily Shorb, Radford University Carilion, Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Scholarship Fund, $1,460
  8. Raphaella Stulce, James Madison University, Adrienne Marie Rhudy Memorial Scholarship Fund, $2,500
  9. Holden Trimmer, Randolph-Macon College, T. Scott Eaton Scholarship Fund & Juanita Shelor Hall Memorial Scholarship, $2,000
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