Children of employees receive scholarships funded by employee donations

27 Sep 2016

Nine recipients of the 2016 Employees' Spouse and Dependent Scholarship pose together. — Nine of the recipients of the 2016 Employees' Spouse and Dependent Scholarship (from left to right): Elizabeth Mullins, Michael Shelton, Kayla Parrish, Ian Davis, Sophia Thompson, Sean Calida, Sarida Pisarnpong, Amber Abbott, and Andrew Zhang.

Virginia Tech employees have once again exemplified the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), by providing scholarships for the children and spouses of fellow employees.

Thanks to the generosity of Virginia Tech employees, 15 members of the class of 2020 have received scholarships from the Employees’ Spouse and Dependent Scholarship Fund. Since 2000, the fund has awarded more than $127,000 in scholarships to 191 incoming students.

The scholarship provides financial support to employees' children or spouses who enroll at Virginia Tech as a first-semester freshman or transfer student. It is the flagship program of the university’s annual Faculty/Staff Campaign and is supported by the Presidential Dependent Scholarship Endowment. Prospective students can apply for the scholarship through the university’s online scholarship gateway.

“I’m honored that my colleagues have chosen to give to this fund, making this scholarship possible for my daughter and countless others,” said Brad Mullins, a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Dickenson County, Virginia. His daughter, Elizabeth Mullins, of Clintwood, Virginia, is one of the students who received the scholarship this year.

“I am very grateful to those who donated,” said Elizabeth Mullins, a first-year student majoring in animal and poultry science. “It’s wonderful to know that the faculty and staff at Virginia Tech are willing to invest in my future.”

“For me, Virginia Tech was a natural fit,” said Andrew Zhang, of Blacksburg, Virginia, another scholarship recipient. “I always knew it was where I belonged. This scholarship helps my family with the costs associated with furthering my education.”

Zhang is a freshman majoring in business information technology and the son of Xunzhong Zhang, a research assistant professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Science, and Jianfeng Zheng, a certified nurse practitioner for Schiffert Health Center.

Other 2016 recipients of the Employees’ Spouse and Dependent Scholarship include:

Amber Abbott, of Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in microbiology. Child of Amos Abbott, an associate professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Alanis Arditti, of Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in psychology. Child of Joyce Arditti, a professor in the Department of Human Development.
Sean Calida, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, majoring in computational modeling and data analytics. Child of Behnido Calida, a senior project associate for the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
Sarah Cartee, of Fairlawn, Virginia, majoring in general engineering. Child of Toni Cartee, a fiscal technician for the Center for the Arts.
Ian Davis, of Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in general engineering. Child of Richey Davis, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Matthew Gillispie, of Pearisburg, Virginia, majoring in biochemistry/pre-med. Child of Cindy Gautier, business operations specialist for the Department of Management.
Alexis Hamlin, of Gainesville, Virginia, majoring in English: literature and language. Child of Jennifer Carter, the associate director of Continuing and Professional Education.
Kayla Parrish, of Chester, Virginia, majoring in human nutrition, food, and exercise. Child of Michael Parrish, a senior Virginia Cooperative Extension agent in Dinwiddle County, Virginia.
Sarida Pisarnpong, of Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in environmental science. Child of Kanitta Charoensiri, the director of Schiffert Health Center.
Michael Shelton, of Christiansburg, Virginia, majoring in business (undecided). Child of Todd Shelton, a capital project manager for University Design and Construction.
Liam Smith, of Roanoke, Virginia, majoring in university studies. Child of Brian Smith, internal controls director for the Controller’s Office.
Sophia Thompson, of Blacksburg, Virginia, majoring in neuroscience. Child of Jim Thompson, head coach for men’s tennis.
Alyssa Wray, of Pearisburg, Virginia, majoring in biological sciences. Child of Deborah Wray, a research administrator for the Biocomplexity Institute of Virginia Tech.