VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

For the fourth consecutive year, the Virginia Commonwealth University Staff Senate will honor a select group of undergraduate students with the Virginia’s Caring University Scholarship.

Scholarships, which range in value from $500 to $1,500, will be awarded to 13 students during a ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 3 p.m. in the University Student Commons.

“The VCU Staff Senate is honored to present the Virginia's Caring University scholarships to these outstanding and deserving students,” said Tammy Berwanger, president of the VCU Staff Senate. “They genuinely represent the true spirit of this scholarship.”

The Staff Senate established the scholarships and sponsored a walk-a-thon fitness event in April to raise money for the scholarships. This year, members of the VCU and health system communities, along with community sponsors, raised approximately $11,600 in support of the scholarship fund.

University juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 2.7 or better who could demonstrate need and past or current community service were encouraged to apply for the awards.

“The VCU Staff Senate has accomplished much over the past four years of this scholarship campaign,” said Marquita Aguilar, Staff Senate Activities and Events chair. “One of our greatest accomplishments is the endowed scholarship, which could not have been possible without the generous support of our staff, faculty, administration, students and community sponsors.”

This year’s recipients and their majors are: Lauren Cunningham, social work; Vanessa Grimes, psychology; Laura Heedick, fashion merchandising; Nicole Ingram, clinical radiation sciences; Shanell Jackson, mass communications; Christopher McCollam, psychology; Khai Nguyen, mass communications; Blair Pierce, business; Loren Pritchett, mass communications; Jhontera Rivers, political science; Sarah Rodriguez, mass communications; Annalisa Sukhu, health and physical education and exercise; and Nerissa Turner, mass communications.

To date, the Staff Senate has raised more than $35,000 in contributions from the VCU and health system communities. Various community vendors also have donated money toward the scholarships or gifts toward the walk-a-thon. Sponsors have included Sam's Club, Target, Doubletree Hotel, Ukrop's and Stuffy's Subs.
 
“Because of this very caring and faithful group of donors, an educational bridge has been built,” said Aguilar. “Each year we look forward to beginning this campaign so that we may endeavor to provide additional undergraduate scholarships to help our students cross over this bridge and help impact our communities with the knowledge that they have received from this institution.”