U.Va. gets $5M gift to establish scholarship for PVCC students

An anonymous $5 million gift to the University of Virginia will be used to provide scholarships to Piedmont Virginia Community College students who wish to transfer to the university, U.Va. President Jim Ryan announced Friday.

The endowed fund will provide scholarships to PVCC students who have been selected as U.Va. University Achievement Award recipients. The scholarship covers full in-state tuition and fees and will be called the Piedmont Scholars Program.

“We have always had a strong relationship with PVCC, and this scholarship program will make that relationship even stronger, while at the same time providing support for students at both schools,” Ryan said in a statement.

The first cohort of Piedmont Scholars will be selected from fall 2021 applicants. U.Va. anticipates that 25 scholarships will be awarded annually. Each year, approximately 150 students transfer from PVCC to U.Va. The gift will also go toward a summer bridge program for PVCC transfer students to adjust to U.Va.’s academic and social environment before the fall semester.

“This innovative gift addresses two of the university’s main priorities — recruiting top prospective students and increasing access and affordability for undergraduates,” Stephen Farmer, U.Va. vice provost for enrollment, said in a statement. “It will bring to Grounds outstanding students from all walks of life — students who will make everyone around them better.”

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