Graduate Scholarships
Graduate, medical and theological school scholarships
The Hampton Roads Community Foundation administers the following graduate, medical and theological school scholarship funds on behalf of generous people who established the scholarships and set their criteria.
Please read each description carefully to determine if you are eligible. Unless otherwise noted, you should demonstrate financial need, be a current, long-time resident of South Hampton Roads (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight County) and plan to enroll (or already be enrolled) in an accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. Priority will be given to full-time students unless the description specifically states that a scholarship is open to part-time students. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Scholarships are renewable, unless otherwise noted.
Award amounts are based on a variety of factors: available money, number of winners selected and financial need.
Be sure to check out all graduate, medical and theological scholarships available.
Learn how to apply for the scholarships listed below
Graduate School Scholarships
AGA Virginia Peninsula Government Accountability Scholarship. For college juniors, seniors, or graduate students from Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, the Middle Peninsula and/or Northern Neck who have at least a 3.0 GPA, have demonstrated keen interest in pursuing a public service career in government financial management and accountability and have declared a major in a relevant field. Eligible majors include, but are not limited to, finance, accounting, auditing, budgeting, financial reporting, performance reporting, grants management, contract management, business administration, business analytics, and public administration. Preference shall be given to students attending universities based in Hampton Roads.
Beach Health Clinic Scholarship. For graduates of high schools in Virginia Beach (including homeschooled Virginia Beach residents) obtaining degrees in medicine (MD or DO), physician’s assistant, nursing, dentistry, dental hygiene, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech language pathology. Preference will be given to students of color. Undergraduates must have already gained admission to a nursing degree program or dental hygiene program. Students completing nursing or dental hygiene pre-requisites are not eligible. NEW IN 2024-2025.
Dan H. Brockwell Scholarship for Architecture. For undergraduate or graduate students from South Hampton Roads studying architecture. Preference will be given to students from Virginia Beach. March 1 deadline.
Stephen A. Carpenter Memorial Fund. For school counselors in Norfolk Public Schools who are acquiring additional education related to counseling. Preference is for those with special interest in disadvantaged inner city children. This is typically a one-time scholarship. However, recipients may be considered for renewal if funds are available. April 1 deadline.
Palmer Farley Memorial Scholarship. For graduate students pursuing the creative brand management track at the Virginia Commonwealth University Brandcenter. This scholarship is renewable for up to two years. Applicants may be from anywhere in the United States. May 1 deadline.
Victor and Ruth N. Goodman Memorial Scholarship. For students from Hampton Roads studying medicine, nursing or other health professions. Students should be pursuing degrees leading to careers as medical practitioners. Health care administration, policy and public health are not eligible. March 1 deadline.
The Memorial Scholarship Fund for Social Work Education started by the Hampton Roads Association of Social Workers. For a graduate student in social work. Students are eligible for one year of scholarship support. Applicants may be from anywhere in Virginia. March 1 deadline.
Tara Welch Gallagher Environmental Scholarship. For full-time and part-time graduate students from the Hampton Roads Sanitation District service area studying environmental health, environmental chemistry, biology or civil or environmental engineering at a public Virginia university. HRSD interns may apply. HRSD employees, commissioners and their relatives are not eligible to apply. One-year scholarship. March 1 deadline.
*In 2020, this scholarship was renamed to honor Tara Welch Gallagher, a stormwater engineer for the City of Virginia Beach, who was a victim of the tragic shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019, and a past recipient of the HRSD Scholarship. Read more about HRSD's desire to honor Tara.
Louis I. Jaffe Memorial Scholarship-Art History & Humanities. For a graduate student from Hampton Roads studying humanities at Old Dominion University or studying art history at any university. March 1 deadline.
Louis I. Jaffe Memorial Scholarship-NSU Alumni. For graduates of Norfolk State University who are enrolled in a graduate program at any institution. Students are eligible for up to two years of scholarship. Applicants must be from Hampton Roads. March 1 deadline.
Leslie P. Langley and Sarah Campen Powers Scholarship (VWU). For undergraduate or graduate students attending Virginia Wesleyan University with a preference for Norfolk Public Schools graduates.
Meachum Scholarship in memory of Charles D. Meachum. For graduates of Norfolk Public Schools for undergraduate or graduate education. March 1 deadline. Not available in 2024-2025.
Peninsula Council of Garden Clubs, Inc. Scholarship. For students from Virginia who are college sophomores or above enrolled in an associate's, bachelor's, master's or Ph.D. program with a declared major in one of the following fields of study at a Virginia college or university: Environmental Sciences; Plant Science, Plant Biology and Plant Pathology; Horticulture, Landscape and Garden Design; Landscape Architecture; Aquaculture and Water Resources; Forestry; or Environmental Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and Estuaries. Preference will be given to students from the Tidewater/Coastal Plains region of Virginia east of the fall line.
Lefki and George Polizos Family Scholarship. For South Hampton Roads students of Greek descent or students attending Virginia Wesleyan College. March 1 deadline. Not available in 2024-2025.
Mary Meyer-Alice Pyle Memorial Nursing Scholarship. For graduates of public or private high schools in South Hampton Roads pursing undergraduate or graduate degrees in nursing (BSN, MSN, DNP) at a Virginia college or university. NEW IN 2025-2026.
Ellis W. Rowe Memorial Scholarship. For students from Gloucester County. Preference will be given to students from the York District, those attending Virginia Wesleyan College or another Methodist college, and those studying marine science, nursing, ministry, medicine, the humanities, agriculture, biology or other basic sciences. March 1 deadline.
Donald E. Sly, M.D. and Madeline H. Sly Medical Scholarship.* For Virginia students in need of financial aid to pursue a career in medicine or health care at an accredited Virginia two-year college, four-year college, vocational, or medical school. March 1 deadline.
Enid W. and Bernard B. Spigel Architectural Scholarship. For long-time Virginia residents who are juniors, seniors or graduate students in architecture, architectural history or architectural preservation. This scholarship is renewable for up to two years. Applicants may be from anywhere in Virginia. March 1 deadline.
Virginia Eye Foundation Scholarship. For residents of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area (including Camden, Currituck and Gates Counties in North Carolina) for undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate education at a technical school, college, university, medical school or school of optometry including vocational and two-year degree accredited institutions. Preference will be given to students obtaining degrees related to ophthalmology, optometry and vision sciences.
Willcox Savage Scholarship. For African American/Black law students or students from other historically marginalized racial or ethnic groups such as, but not limited to, Native American/Indigenous, Hispanic/Latinx, Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Islander, who are long-time Virginia residents enrolled in a juris doctor program. Preference shall be given to first-year law students, students attending a law school in Virginia, and/or students from Hampton Roads. May 1 deadline.
Paul and Athena Yeonas Memorial Fund. For South Hampton Roads students of Greek descent attending a community college, four-year college or graduate school. March 1 deadline.
Medical School Scholarships (M.D. students only)
Wayne and Louinda Hollis Jones Scholarship. For students who are graduates of high schools located in South Hampton Roads, VA or Martin County, NC studying to obtain an undergraduate degree in Nursing (ASN or BSN) or a Doctor of Medicine degree. Preference will be given to nursing students. March 1 deadline. NEW IN 2024-2025.
Lewis K. Martin II, M.D. and Cheryl Rose Martin Scholarship*. For Virginia residents pursuing medical school at University of Virginia School of Medicine. Applicants may be from anywhere in Virginia. March 1 deadline.
Drs. Kirkland Ruffin and Willcox Ruffin Scholarship. For students from Norfolk attending Eastern Virginia Medical School. March 1 deadline. Not available in 2024-2025.
Dr. Buzzy and Helen Schulwolf Fund for Smith Scholars*. Students selected as Smith Scholars will automatically be considered for this additional scholarship. March 1 deadline. Not available in 2024-2025. Meet Buzzy Schulwolf in a video
Florence L. Smith Medical Scholarship. For long-time Virginia residents attending Eastern Virginia Medical School, University of Virginia School of Medicine or Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Applicants may be from anywhere in Virginia. March 1 deadline.
Watch a video about the Florence Smith Medical Scholarship and read Florence Smith's story, learn the inspiring history of the scholarship and see the bond among Smith Scholars.
*Dr. Martin, Dr. Schulwolf and Dr. Sly were recipients of Smith Scholarships while in medical school.
Theological School Scholarships
Barron F. Black Theological Scholarship. For students at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria who are candidates for the ministry. Students must be residents of the geographic region served by the Diocese of Southern Virginia. April 1 deadline.
Richard D. and Sheppard R. Cooke Memorial Scholarship. For students from South Hampton Roads being educated for the ministry at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond. Preference will be given to students from Norfolk churches within the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia. April 1 deadline.
William F. Miles Scholarship. For a student from Hampton Roads who is preparing for leadership in a field of religious service. April 1 deadline.
Reverend Doctor Joyce G. Moss Theologian Scholarship. For students attending Regent University School of Divinity with the intent of pursuing a full-time career in Christian ministry. Preference will be given to full-time students who have at least a 3.0 grade point average. Applicants may be from outside the Hampton Roads area. April 1 deadline.
Hy Smith Endowment. For students at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria who are candidates for the ministry. Students must be residents of the geographic region served by the Diocese of Southern Virginia. April 1 deadline.
