Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program

Name: Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program

Award Amount: Up to $10,000 per academic year

Information and Eligibility:

The Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Program provides educational financial assistance to individuals who were denied public education in Virginia due to school closures between 1954 and 1964, as part of the response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision. This program is intended to ensure that those who were impacted by these closures have access to educational opportunities. It also honors the history of those who fought for educational access and equality.

Eligibility is available to the following individuals:

• Directly Affected Individuals: These individuals must have been students in the public schools of Arlington, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Prince Edward County, or Warren County during the 1954–1964 period. They must have been denied access to public education due to the school closures, which were implemented as a means of avoiding school desegregation following the Brown v. Board decision.
• Lineal Descendants: The scholarship is available to the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of directly affected individuals. This eligibility is expanded to ensure that the legacy of those impacted by the school closures is supported across generations.
• Collateral Descendants: The scholarship is also extended to the nieces, nephews, and their lineal descendants (children, grandchildren) of the directly affected individuals.

The scholarship is designed to support individuals attending an accredited postsecondary institution within Virginia. It can be used to cover a variety of educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and supplies. The scholarship provides funding of up to $10,000 per academic year, depending on the recipient’s educational program and need. The scholarship may be renewed annually based on continued eligibility and academic progress.

The scholarship is part of Virginia’s ongoing commitment to addressing the historical and ongoing impacts of segregation on education. By offering this scholarship, the program aims to provide the descendants of those impacted by the school closures with an opportunity to access the same educational opportunities that were denied to previous generations.

To apply, students need to submit the following documentation:

• Application Form: A completed scholarship application available on the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship website.
• Proof of Eligibility: Documentation proving that the applicant is a direct or collateral descendant of a person who was affected by the school closures between 1954 and 1964. This may include birth certificates, family records, or other legal documentation that shows the familial relationship to the directly affected individual.
• Academic Records: A copy of the applicant’s most recent academic records, including transcripts from high school or postsecondary institutions, if applicable.
• Personal Statement: A personal statement explaining the applicant’s educational goals, how they are connected to the legacy of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, and why the scholarship would help further their academic and career aspirations.

The scholarship is available for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as adult learners who are returning to education. If awarded, scholarship funds are paid directly to the academic institution to cover tuition and related costs, and recipients must maintain satisfactory academic progress to continue receiving the scholarship annually.

Deadline: April 11

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