Linda H. Woodley Service Scholarship

Nominations are due April 1, 2024.

The Linda H. Woodley Service Scholarship is established in memory of Mrs. Woodley and to encourage young people who have demonstrated a lifestyle commitment to volunteerism. The scholarship endowment is funded by gifts from the Woodley family, colleagues, and organizations from around the Commonwealth.

Who can nominate students for this scholarship:

• A VirginiaCAN partner organization in good standing (must have attended at least 2 out of 3 of VirginiaCAN's annual conferences since 2021)

  • The nominating organization must provide higher education access activities directly to high school students.

• DO NOT encourage all of your students to submit applications. Instead, it is recommended that the nominating organization identify two or three students that best meet the scholarship criteria and then work specifically with those students to submit applications.

• Only the first three complete applications per organization, submitted by the deadline, will be accepted.

Application and Selection Notification Deadlines:

Applications must be submitted by April 1, 2024. The recipients and nominating organizations will be notified of their selection via email no later than April 26, 2024.

Scholarship Awards:

The scholarship committee will award $1,000 scholarships to four students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Selection Criteria:

• 2024 high school graduate; intending to enroll at least half-time at an institution of higher education no later than fall 2024

• Significant volunteer service

  • The student’s volunteer service need not necessarily have been with the nominating organization.

  • In order to qualify as volunteer service:

    • The student cannot be paid. The service organization may not be for-profit.

    • The work must benefit someone outside of the student's immediate or extended family.

    • Service to the following types of organizations generally qualify: Hospitals, homeless shelters, animal shelters, after-school programs, charities, religious organizations, environmental organizations

• Strength of academics and student-submitted essay

• Financial need

• Special consideration for first-generation college students and students from single-parent households

How to apply:

Please review the full Application Details here including required documents before beginning your application.

"LIVE SIMPLY. LOVE GENEROUSLY. CARE DEEPLY. SPEAK KINDLY. LEAVE THE REST TO GOD."

- Linda’s favorite quote

About Linda H. Woodley

Ms. Woodley was a driving force behind the vision for, and a founding member of, the Virginia College Access Network (VirginiaCAN) and an avid supporter of and participant in volunteer community service. Ms. Woodley was passionately dedicated to expanding higher education opportunities to citizens of the Commonwealth. Her work with the Virginia State Education Assistance Authority, Virginia Education Loan Authority, Educational Credit Management Corporation, and most recently the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia spanned almost three decades. Linda’s volunteer activities were extensive and included service to the Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Super Saturday for Financial Aid, VirginiaCAN, GRASP, and her place of worship.