Information for Applicants

Our 2026 Scholarship Application will open in October! We welcome applications from high school seniors, adults returning to school, and students already enrolled in 2- and 4- year colleges, universities, trade, or technical schools.
Scholarship recipients at the 2025 luncheon.

Since issuing our first scholarship in 2002, we have awarded $1,270,000+ to more than 1,200 students. Through the generosity of many donors, in 2026, we gave out more than $212,000+ in scholarships to students living or studying in New River Valley. 

The CFNRV’s scholarship application is open to high school students planning to pursue a degree or undergraduate students currently in school at 2- or 4-year colleges or universities as well as trade or technical schools. Older adults returning to school are also welcome to apply as are ACCE students from New River Community College. Additionally, there is one scholarship available to students pursuing a doctorate at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

While there are dozens of CFNRV funds set up to give out scholarships each year, applicants only need to submit a single application to the Foundation and indicate the scholarships for which they would like to be considered.

Quick Links to Important Guides & Documents

Application Guide
AI Acceptable Use Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
List of Scholarship Funds: shares details on each scholarship fund
Scholarship Fund Table: shows who is eligible to apply for each scholarship
Student Financial Form

Scholarship Timeline

The 2027 timeline will be published when this year’s application opens.

How do I apply for a scholarship?

Our 2027 Scholarship Application will open in early October. If you are a donor interested in establishing a Scholarship Fund, please visit this page.

The steps outlined below will help you select the scholarship that best suits you and allow you to apply in a timely manner. If you have any questions about the process, please contact Laura Pynn, director of our scholarship program at laurapynn@cfnrv.org or 540-381-8999. Please do not wait until the last minute to reach out to us.

STEP 1: Apply early, regularly check your email, and reach out to us if you have questions!

We will email you to let you know whether or not your application is complete, so make sure to regularly check your email for updates from our team. If you are not receiving email, check your application to make your email address is correct and check your spam folder. If you are still not receiving emails, please reach out to our team.

STEP 2: Read the following documents in their entirety.

STEP 3: Ask for letters of recommendation & check to make sure they have been submitted.

Each applicant must submit two letters of recommendation. One of those letters must be from a teacher or professor. After you input the email addresses of those you wish to write a letter, the scholarship system will email a unique link to those individuals and they will be prompted to upload their letter into the system.

It is your responsibility to ensure that these letters are submitted. Please make sure the people you would like a recommendation from know they will be receiving an email from us about it. Check our online system frequently to see if we have received the letters. If the letters are showing as not approved in the system, follow up with your letter writers to until you see that these pieces of your application are approved.

Your application NOT COMPLETE without two letters of recommendation and will be removed from the system if they are not there by the deadline!

STEP 4: Complete the Student Financial Statement Form.

What is the Student Financial Statement form? This is a form that we require to understand the financial circumstances of yourself and your family. Again this year, we are not requiring the FAFSA. Because of that, we will only have the Student Financial Statement to rely on to understand your financial circumstances, so please be as detailed as possible. If you are dependent on parents or guardians, please give accurate information on their occupations and annual income.

For all applicants, give details in the section that asks about extenuating financial circumstances. Include information on the following if it applies to you:

  • Whether you are paying for school by yourself or will get family support.
  • How many students in your family are currently in college/trade school.
  • How many dependents you have.
  • Details on debt you have or your family has. This can include: student loans, back taxes, medical debt, credit cards, etc.
  • Anything else you think would be relevant to further explain your financial circumstances.

STEP 5: Read about the available scholarship funds and select the scholarships for which you are eligible to apply:

STEP 6: Review our new AI Acceptable Use policy before working on your application, especially your personal essay.

Each scholarship applicant is required to submit a personal essay, which is an essential part of your application. We are looking for your resiliency, your passion, your motivations, your intentions – tell us about yourself. Make it a story. If you have applied to us before for a scholarship, this must be a new essay. Scholarships are awarded heavily based on your essay.

Because of the importance of this essay, the CFNRV has developed a new AI Acceptable Use policy for the 2026 application. While we recognize that AI tools such as, but not limited to, ChatGPT, Gemini, Jasper, and CoPilot can be powerful tools, they should not be used to replace your unique voice and original ideas.

As such, all CFNRV scholarship applicants must abide by this policy outlining acceptable and unacceptable use of AI. You will be required to confirm in the application that you have read and abided by this policy to be considered for scholarship funding. If reviewers believe you have violated the policy and used AI tools in an inappropriate manner, you will not receive a scholarship.

STEP 7: Request your academic transcript.

Don’t wait until the last minute to ask for your academic transcript! We accept an unofficial transcript so you would not need to pay for your transcript. There is a link to upload your transcript in your Student Portal. You may need to ask your guidance counselor to email this information to you. You will need to save the transcript to your computer and upload it into your application.

STEP 8: Ensure both of your letters of recommendation are submitted.

You can submit your application before we receive your letters of recommendation, HOWEVER, your application is not complete until we receive both of the letters. Your application will be removed from the process if it is not fully completed.

STEP 9: Submit the online scholarship application.

All scholarship applications must be submitted through our online scholarship management system. No late applications will be considered for any reason. All applicants will be notified of decisions in April.

Scroll to Top