{"id":13667,"date":"2019-06-09T20:08:05","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T00:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=13667"},"modified":"2019-06-09T20:11:24","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T00:11:24","slug":"scholarship-fund-awards-record-460000-in-college-scholarships-to-t-c-williams-seniors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=13667","title":{"rendered":"Scholarship Fund Awards Record $460,000 in College Scholarships to T.C. Williams Seniors \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria (SFA) has awarded a record $460,000 in scholarships to 170 T.C. Williams High School Class of 2019 students to support their college education. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is the largest amount awarded to first-year scholarship recipients in the organization\u2019s 33-year history. More than half of the scholarship recipients will be the first in their family to attend college.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scholarships will support students with financial need and help them attend college. <\/span>Many students are eligible to receive additional scholarship support through all four years of college. The SFA also awards more than $500,000 in renewal scholarships annually.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are so very grateful to everyone here who has financially supported our students, believed in our students, and helped make college possible for local Alexandria students in need. While this is the largest amount we have ever awarded, it is important to remember that our continued support for students like these is critical in helping ensure that college can be possible for all T.C. Williams students despite their financial need or hardship,\u201d said SFA Board Chair Priscilla Goodwin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Yaw <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of the 170 students receiving scholarships, a number are heading to Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt and Georgetown University. They will be going on to major in criminology, psychology, cinematography, physics and business among other subjects next year.<\/span><\/p>\n

These scholarships change lives…forever. This is my favorite night of the year, when all of our bright, hard-working students \u2014 more than half of them the first in their family to attend college \u2014 are celebrated for their academic achievements and the amazing futures that lie ahead of them. It is such a meaningful and poignant moment when I see our students stand side by side with the people who support their scholarships and make college possible for them,\u201d said SFA Executive Director Beth Lovain. \u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Divine Tsasa Nzita, recipient of the T.C. Williams Class of 1989 Scholarship, received a $20,000 scholarship award over four years. Divine, who is originally from the <\/span>Democratic Republic of Congo and is <\/span>Student Government President at T.C. Williams, will begin her college career at Northern Virginia Community College where she plans to study International Relations with a minor in French and Korean. <\/span><\/p>\n

I cannot begin to express how grateful we are for being given this chance to advance our education beyond high school. Having the support of The Scholarship Fund and all of its donors, and the support of T.C. Williams, is a priceless gift,\u201d she told the audience on Wednesday evening.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Individual community supporters and local business leaders who provided the funding for the scholarships joined the recipients on stage during the 2019 SFA Scholarship Awards Ceremony. <\/span><\/p>\n

The SFA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing scholarships and financial aid advising to students of Alexandria City Public Schools. Since 1986, SFA has awarded $16.5 million in scholarships, making college dreams come true for 4,750 students.<\/span><\/p>\n