A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation gives additional $11 million for engineering scholarships
The foundation has now given over $29 million for in-state students with demonstrated need who are studying engineering at Virginia Tech.
In 2025, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation provided an additional $11 million to support the Virginia Tech Clark Scholars Program, which was originally established through a $15 million investment in 2017.
At the time, the Maryland-based foundation’s original investment was the largest ever made in support of scholarships at Virginia Tech. The foundation's latest investment brought its total support for Virginia Tech engineering students to more than $29 million, nearly all of which was endowed for long-term impact.
The Clark Scholars Program benefits Virginia students with demonstrated financial need, the same group that is a focus of the university’s Virginia Tech Advantage initiative, which spans all undergraduate colleges.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation for their transformative impact on our campus community,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “We are dedicated to empowering every student to make the most of their college experience, and the foundation’s support has played a vital role in helping us fulfill that goal. Through our joint commitment to student success, many cohorts of Hokies have been able to pursue their academic and personal goals with confidence and purpose.”
Enduring legacy
For some university students, preparing for college means choosing classes, joining clubs, and exploring the opportunities campus life offers. For others, the need to juggle part-time jobs to support their education can severely limit those opportunities. The Clark Foundation has made a life-changing impact on cohort after cohort of scholars at multiple universities, including Virginia Tech.
The foundation’s latest investment came as part of its final round of support to several universities. The Clark Foundation concluded its operations at the end of 2025 as part of its 10-year, $1.4 billion spend-down. Founded to invest in the communities and causes most important to A. James and Alice B. Clark, the foundation concentrated on strategic investments that would endure well beyond its sunset. The endowed Clark Scholars Program will exist in perpetuity and stands as a testament to that vision.
“The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation was created with the vision of opening doors for purpose-driven people and equipping them with the tools they need to reach their full potential and strengthen their communities,” said former foundation President and CEO Joe Del Guercio. “The Clark Scholars Program at Virginia Tech reflects that vision, and the impact is evident in the purpose-driven engineers and leaders developed through the program.”
Ten Clark Scholars are admitted to the College of Engineering each year. Thanks to the foundation’s philanthropy, Clark Scholars’ tuition, room and board, and fees are fully covered. Clark Scholars also receive funding for books, class materials, and computers. Through the program, they also receive funding to help cover the cost of experiential learning opportunities, such as internships or conferences. A faculty adviser works with Clark Scholars to help ensure their success, and the program includes a peer mentoring system in which established scholars mentor new students as they arrive at Virginia Tech.
Empowering support
Mia Taylor ’21 was a member of the Clark Scholars Program’s first cohort at Virginia Tech, which arrived in fall 2017. She now works as a machine learning engineer at Vanguard.
“Because I was fully supported through college, I was able to experience so much more than just my studies,” said Taylor. “I conducted extensive undergraduate research, was heavily involved in the Association for Women in Computing, and even completed a minor in Japanese studies. I was able to be so involved on campus because I finally had the resources to spend time doing that. That freedom helped me develop into a well-rounded person.”
Rodney Okyere ’23, M.S. ’25 credits support from the Clark Foundation with helping him earn his bachelor’s degree in computer science and extend his education with a master’s degree in computer science and applications.
“When I applied to schools, financial aid was at the forefront of my mind,” said Okyere, who is now a substitute teacher. “The Clark Scholars Program made a world of difference for me.”
Long-term success
To ensure the long-term success of the Clark Scholars Program now that the foundation has concluded operations, a new oversight body known as the Clark Scholars Program Network has been established, said Christina Martin, assistant director for student programs in the College of Engineering. The network’s key goals include sustaining the community of Clark Scholars across all 11 partner universities and connecting alumni to support scholars beyond graduation, added Martin, who directs the Virginia Tech Clark Scholars Program and the collegewide Student Transition Engineering Program for first-year students.
Lauren Ruiz said resources provided by the Clark Scholars Program, including financial aid, mentoring, and connections to other “Clarkies,” were life-changing. She is on track to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and credits support from the program with helping her overcome “imposter syndrome” early in her academic career.
“I am a first-generation student, and Christina Martin has been my biggest resource and support,” said Ruiz. “She has guided me through some of the biggest and riskiest decisions I’ve made, and I’m grateful every day for her advice.”
Ruiz’s college experience included visiting eight companies in cities across the United States, serving as president of the Computer Science Careers student organization, and traveling to Europe to collaborate with international students on a project to translate images into data. Well before graduation, she had already received a job offer from Salesforce following an internship with the company.
“I feel like this scholarship was the foundation for everything happening in my life right now,” said Ruiz. “I 100 percent would not be where I am today without it. Going to college would have been so different without this program.”
Julie Ross served as the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering throughout nearly all the Clark Scholars Program’s history at Virginia Tech, witnessing its growth. She became the university’s executive vice president and provost on Jan. 10.
“The opportunities created through this program have become an essential part of our students’ experience,” said Ross. “Clark Scholars demonstrate what’s possible when strong partnerships support student success. We’re grateful for our longstanding collaboration with the foundation and look forward to the opportunities its endowment will continue to provide for years to come.”
