Scholarship fund exclusively serves employee spouses and dependents

With Giving Day just around the corner, Virginia Tech has a unique way for faculty and staff to contribute to this year’s 24-hour fundraising tradition while supporting the educational goals of our very own employees’ spouses and dependents.

Give to the Employees’ Spouse and Dependent Scholarship fund. 

To ensure they count toward Giving Day, gifts to the Employees’ Spouse and Dependent Scholarship should be made online or by phone between noon on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and noon Thursday, Feb. 16.

Created in 2000, this scholarship is awarded one time to first-year students or new transfers. This scholarship is different from others in that it is exclusively granted to the dependents and spouses of employees who enroll at Virginia Tech. 

Since its founding, more than 250 incoming students have received assistance. Eight first-year students received awards from the fund in fall 2022. 

“I've lived in Blacksburg my entire life, and so I wanted to experience campus, diversity, and all of the great things that campus life has to offer,” said Keegan Appea, a 2022 scholarship recipient. “Living on campus meant more expenses for our family, and the scholarship made my goal of living on campus possible. It helped my mom be able to afford it, and I am very thankful for the opportunity.”

While suppport for the scholarship come mainly from Virginia Tech employees, anyone is welcome to give. Scholarship amounts and number of recipients differ year to year based on the amount of funds available and the number of applicants.