150 Scholarships. 427 Awards.One Application. You can do this.
Last year the Reynolds Foundation funded approximately 150 scholarships, and made awards to 427 students of all ages, backgrounds, and academic standing and interests.
We believe in you. Just like we believed in Kiersten Echols, Janeen McNeish, Katherine Alloway-Roof, and Mark Alexander. They got scholarships to help fund their education. You can, too.
Katherine first “fell in love with plants” when she was in high school and took a job as a cashier at a garden and landscape center. Now, in her last year at Reynolds, Katherine says, “There’s a lot to love about horticulture. The field is always evolving, with new techniques and innovations being introduced every day. Plus, plants are always going to be here. We owe them their care. I love working with plants and with people, so it’s perfect for me.”
Most of us take landscaping for granted. Grass has to be mowed, trees have to be trimmed. Not Katherine. She has a vision for how our surroundings could be different and how they could be designed to make more sense. Her work is more mission than work.
“One of my greatest challenges is working with landscape designers,” she says, “I want to encourage them to break out of the mold of using evergreens and hollies all the time. I want to show them other options that actually bloom. I’d like to see the use of more natives, perennials, and plants that attract pollinators. I really enjoy suggesting horticultural alternatives, and helping people learn about something new and different.”
In her time at Reynolds Katherine has clearly put down roots and bloomed. She says this about her experience: “One of the best parts of Reynolds is the strong support system. In my first year the advisors were really important. David Seward has been absolutely amazing and I can’t thank him enough for all the help he has given me. He knew I needed financial help and encouraged me to apply for scholarships. All the professors and the other students have been great. The whole experience has been fantastic and my leap of faith has paid off. At one point I had to move back home to Fredricksburg and commute to school, and it was still worth it.”
Katherine has been awarded the John H. Wright-Elk Hill Scholarship to help her finance her last semester at Reynolds. Right now she works full time at a local nursery taking care of the greenhouses and helping customers. She plans to graduate in December after taking a full load of classes this fall.
Then what? “I really like my job and want to continue working. I’ve been looking at Virginia Tech or UVA for a four-year degree in landscape architecture. Eventually I’d like to work with cities, maybe Richmond, designing green spaces. It’s so important for people to have green spaces, no matter where they live.”
Coming to Reynolds may have been a big leap of faith for Katherine, but she has cleared her first hurdle beautifully, and has bloomed where she has been planted. She is well on her way now to making our world a little greener.
Want to apply for a Reynolds scholarship?
The Scholarship Application opens Sunday, December 1, 2019 and closes Sunday, March 1, 2020.
You can apply for a scholarship through the Reynolds General Scholarship Program or through the Community Highlight: Reynolds East End Scholarship Program.The Scholarship Application opens Sunday, December 1, 2019 and close Sunday, March 1, 2020. A wide variety of scholarships are available. Some are general, others are for specific programs of study, or are for students living in a particular locality. Current and prospective students can complete and submit one common scholarship application to be considered for all available scholarships. For more information visit: http://www.reynolds.edu/scholarships.
Reynolds General Scholarship Program
Reynolds Community College offers a variety of scholarships to students with diverse interests and backgrounds. Each year the Reynolds Scholarship Office awards more than half a million dollars in scholarships to eligible students. Awards can range from $100 to $4,000, with the average award being $1,500. Reynolds scholarships are established by gifts to the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Educational Foundation and awarded by the Reynolds Scholarship Committee.
Community Highlight: Reynolds East End Scholarship
If you live in the East End of the City of Richmond or Henrico County you may be eligible for a scholarship this scholarship. With more than 90 degree and workforce programs, including culinary arts, healthcare, and other credentials for immediate employment or 4-year transfer, Reynolds has a program for you. There is no age limit. Reynolds staff members are available to help with your admission and financial aid applications.
