Augusta Chamber Awards $20K in Scholarships to Local Students

FISHERSVille, VA (WHSV) — The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation has granted $20,000 in scholarships to twenty high school seniors from the Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro region.

As part of the organization's yearly initiative, available to final-year students from public, private, and homeschools, every participant was awarded a $1,000 grant. These financial aids can be utilized for studies at two- or four-year universities, vocational institutions, training courses, and internship programs.

We consistently marvel at the quality of students we have here," remarked Courtney Thompson, president and CEO of the chamber. "A great number of them boast 4.0 GPAs, participate in various activities outside their studies, and hold leadership positions. Our aim is to invest in these local students with the hope that they will return and enrich our community.

Candidates provided essays, academic transcripts, and information regarding their extracurricular involvement and professional aspirations. The selection panel then evaluated these submissions and chose the highest-ranking twenty individuals.

The honorees this year come from various local educational institutions such as Fort Defiance, Buffalo Gap, Riverheads, Stuarts Draft, Waynesboro, Ridgeview Christian, and the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School.

Multiple community sponsors such as The Hershey Company, Daikin, McKee Foods, and City National Bank backed the scholarship initiative.

Next week, students will be honored at the chamber office. They will get their formal award certificates, have pictures taken with a large mock check, and each will receive a gift bag. Applications for the subsequent scholarship cycle will become available in January.