Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the world of scholarships can be overwhelming, but it's a crucial step in making higher education accessible. The Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation (JIDMF) Education Scholarship stands out as a beacon of hope for students striving to achieve their academic dreams. This article delves into the specifics of the JIDMF scholarship, its requirements, and other valuable scholarship opportunities available, particularly in Virginia.

Introduction to the Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation Scholarship

The Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation Education Scholarship was established to honor the memory of PFC Jeffery Isaiah David, who passed away on February 22, 2021. The JIDMF recognizes that attending college is a significant step toward achieving academic and career goals. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors and continuing education students seeking to continue their higher educational goals. The scholarships are allocated for the current school year and must be utilized to assist with expenses related to attending college, vocational, or trade school of their choice for tuition, fees, and/or materials.

Award Details and Eligibility

Scholarship awards are determined annually, and award amounts vary. Ten to Twenty (10-20) scholarships will be awarded. Award amounts will generally range from $500-$6,000 per year.

To be eligible for the Jeffery Isaiah David Memorial Foundation Scholarship, applicants must:

Demonstrate financial need.
Be enrolled in a 4-year Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their 3rd, 4th, or 5th year of study leading to an undergraduate degree.
Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 out of 4.

Application Deadlines and Requirements

The JIDMF offers scholarships twice a year. The application deadlines are:

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Spring 2025 semester application deadline: December 15, 2024
Summer/Fall 2025 semester application deadline: April 15, 2025

For Graduating High School Seniors who plan to enroll for the first time in the Fall 2026 semester, the application process is as follows:

Online Application: Available from April 1-15th (until 11:59 EST)
Eligibility: Graduating High School Senior with a GPA of 3.5 or greater on a 4.0 scale.
Requirements:
- Copy of high school transcripts
- College acceptance letter
- Two letters of recommendation (from a high school teacher, counselor, principal, pastor, employer, or community leader)
- A written essay (400-500 words) or a 3-5 minute video on the prompt listed in the application.

Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. The scholarship ceremony will be held in North Carolina in person.

Scholarship as a Gift Aid

The scholarship is a gift aid that can be used to assist with tuition, fees, books, and supplies related to higher education. Scholarship awards will be issued at the Foundation's discretion, either directly to the student or to the student's college or program.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities for Virginia Students

While the JIDMF scholarship offers a valuable opportunity, numerous other scholarships cater specifically to students in Virginia. Here's a detailed look at some of them:

General Virginia Scholarships

The Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation's Scholarship: Provides annual grants for deserving female students with financial need at accredited educational institutions in Virginia and other Southern states.
Virginia Commonwealth University Scholarships: Considers all outstanding first-year applicants for university-level scholarships if they apply for the fall semester by November 1.
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV): Serves as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s coordinating agency for higher education, offering resources and information on various scholarships and financial aid programs.
University of Virginia Alumni Association Scholarships: Administers more than 250 different scholarships, ranging from modest stipends to full tuition, room, and board. Many are available through an application process independent of the University’s financial aid process.
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) Programs: Offers numerous programs for people of all ages and walks of life, potentially including scholarships or financial aid for art-related studies.
DCTAG (District of Columbia College Access Act): Expands higher education choices for college-bound residents of the District of Columbia, which may include students attending colleges in Virginia.

Scholarships Based on Specific Criteria

Virginia Mayflower Society Scholarship: An annual scholarship for $1,620, presented by the Virginia Mayflower Society and funded by its members and friends.
SAWF Scholarship Program: Provides financial assistance to women enrolled or enrolling in a STEM field at an accredited two-year technical program, four-year undergraduate program, or a graduate program. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA, with a preference for those interested in the automobile and mobility industry.
Edna R. Anthony Scholarship: Provides scholarships in the remembrance of Edna R. Anthony. Candidates must be enrolled as a high school senior, maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, attend a Historically Black College or University, and declare a major in Criminal Justice, Journalism, or Nursing or Healthcare. Winners are announced in May.
Leo Bourassa Scholarship: Supports and acknowledges deserving students who are studying in fields related to water resources. Applicants must be a student in good standing at any Virginia accredited college or university and a resident of Virginia at the time of application and award.
Marocchi Memorial Scholarship: Provides two awards of $2,500 each, one given to a graduating senior from a Virginia high school and one given to a Virginia resident attending a college or university in Virginia.
Plein Environmental Scholarship Fund: Provides scholarships to benefit students in need of financial assistance who are pursuing an associate degree at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and intending to receive admission to a four-year university to pursue a degree in an environmental field. Each awardee can receive up to $15,000 over the course of four years of study.
Polish-American Arts Association Scholarship: Applicants must be an American citizen (by birth or naturalization), or a 10-year green card permanent resident looking to become a citizen, of Polish or Polish-American descent, and a legal resident of Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, OR a full-time student at an institution in one of these jurisdictions. They must also be a full-time college student currently enrolled at an accredited college/university in the United States, with confirmed future attendance at an institution in the summer/fall and must describe his/her involvement with the Polish community.
PMI North Carolina Chapter Scholarship: Offered to students enrolled in or applying for an accredited academic degree program in project management or a related field. Priority is given to residents of North Carolina, those planning to attend or currently attending a school in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia, and those planning to attend or currently attending a school anywhere.
Generation Hope: A nonprofit organization that helps DC-area teen parents become college graduates through one-on-one mentoring, tuition assistance, and crisis intervention. Applicants must be teen parents age 25 or younger at the time of application, be raising or actively involved in their child’s life, be attending or planning to attend college in the D.C. Metro Area seeking an undergraduate two or four-year degree, be a US Citizen, legal US Resident, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, submit the FAFSA, and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Mary Blackwell Barnes Memorial Scholarship: Named in honor of Mary Blackwell Barnes, a dedicated servant of public finance.
Sonny Roden Memorial Scholarship: Awarded annually by the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) to students enrolled at Virginia universities in an environmental engineering or physical science graduate program. Applicants must have a 3.25 GPA.
Operator Scholarship: Awarded annually by the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) to operators employed in the wastewater treatment profession in Virginia.
VWEA Rising Freshman Scholarship: Awarded annually by the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) to students graduating from high school and planning on enrolling at a Virginia college, community college, or university in a civil or environmental engineering or physical/environmental science undergraduate program. Students must also have a minimum 3.5 GPA.
VWEA Undergraduate Scholarship: Awarded annually by the Virginia Water Environment Association (VWEA) to students enrolled at Virginia universities or community college in a civil or environmental engineering or physical/environmental science undergraduate program.
Nursing Scholarship Program: For students in a practical nurse program (LPN) or a registered nurse (RN) program who are accepted or enrolled in a school of nursing in the State of Virginia. Scholarship recipients must agree to engage in full-time nursing in Virginia for one month for every $100 received.
Dr. Charlena M. Seymour Scholarship: Established to recognize women pursuing an advanced degree in the fields of Public and Environmental Health.
Virginia Tech SigEp Balanced Man Scholarship: Rewards young men who are currently embracing all aspects of Sigma Phi Epsilon’s ideals and working to become a well-rounded Balanced Man while working on leadership skills and becoming involved in as many ways as possible.

Location-Specific Scholarships

John Randolph Foundation Scholarships: Offered to students in Hopewell, Prince George, Enon, Chester, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie, Sussex, Surry, Charles City, and Varina. The scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) Scholarships: The Leslie V. Forte Scholarship Fund awards $2,250 to minority students attending the Northern Virginia Community College.
Fairfax County Public Schools Scholarships: The William J. Foreman Memorial Scholarship Fund awards $2,000 to graduating high school seniors from Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate academic achievement and potential, the ability to overcome significant adversity, financial need, leadership or mentoring skills, and a positive attitude.
Prince William County Scholarships: The Louise Lightner Jamison Teacher Scholarship Fund awards $2,000 to high school seniors residing in Prince William County who plan to pursue an undergraduate degree in the field of education.
Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association Scholarship: Offers four $10,000 scholarships to high school students in South Hampton Roads, the Peninsula, or the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The Aero Club Foundation of Washington Scholarship: The scholarship offers $5,000 to students interested in aviation or aerospace. High school students from the District of Columbia; Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia; and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland are eligible.

Scholarships with Specific Deadlines

It’s important to note that scholarship deadlines vary. Here are a few examples:

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Kids’ Chance of Virginia Scholarship: Due January 1st.
Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement Scholarship: Due January 9th.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) Future Leaders Scholarship: Due January 9th.
State Fair of Virginia Youth Scholarship Program: Due January 22nd.
BBB Serving Western VA’s Student of Integrity Scholarship: Due January 31st.
Roothbert Fund Scholarships: Due February 1st.
Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship: Due February 15th.
Franklin D. Boyce Annual Health Scholarship: Due February 17th.
Simon Youth Greg Saunders Legacy Scholarship: Due February 21st.
Colonial Agricultural Educational Foundation Scholarship: Due March 1st.
Diamond Youth Baseball Scholarship Program: Due March 1st.
Matthew E. Minor Memorial Scholarship: Due March 1st.
Michell Merhige Scholarship Fund: Due March 7th.
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship: Due March 15th.
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship: Due March 15th.
Amin Family Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
AMS Opportunity Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Charles Homer Barton Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Denise Dowse Drama Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Elizabeth Koury Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Northern Virginia First Responders Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
NVTC Foundation Kilberg Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Rose Koury Scholarship Fund: Due March 17th.
Executive Women International Scholarship Program: Due March 25th.
Booz Allen Hamilton Vision Scholarship Fund: Due March 26th.
Delmarva Chicken Association (DCA) College Scholarship Program: Due March 28th.
African American Leadership Society STEM Scholarship: Due March 31st.
Polish-American Arts Association Scholarship: Due March 31st.
Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest: Due March 31st.
Leo Bourassa Scholarship: Due April 1st.
Montford Point Marine Association Washington, DC 6 Chapter Scholarship: Due April 1st.
Bedford Professional Women (BPW) Alice Mahone Scholarship: Due April 1st.
Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship: Due April 1st.
Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) Education Scholarship Foundation: Due April 3rd.
Electronic Security Association (ESA) Youth Scholarship: Due April 4th.
Southeast Desalting Association Scholarship: Due April 4th.

External Scholarship Platforms

In addition to these Virginia-specific scholarships, numerous national platforms can help students find funding opportunities:

Finding the best scholarship search platforms can save parents and students time and money.
Niche: Offers multiple scholarship links, including no-essay scholarships.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF): Manages various scholarship programs, each with its own eligibility criteria, open/close dates, and required documentation.
Gates Scholarship: A highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority high school seniors from low-income households.
Dell Scholars: For high school seniors participating in an approved college readiness program, planning to enroll full-time in an accredited college right after high school, be Pell grant eligible, and have a 2.4 GPA minimum.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF): Offers financial assistance to outstanding students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Burger King Foundation: Scholarships range from $1,000 to $60,000 and are intended to offset the cost of attending college or post-secondary vocational/technical school.
Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service: Available to students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Generation Google Scholarship: Established to help aspiring students pursuing computer science degrees.
Coca-Cola Scholars Program: An achievement-based scholarship awarded to students in their final year of high school.

Tips for a Successful Scholarship Application

Securing a scholarship requires more than just meeting the eligibility criteria. Here are some tips to enhance your application:

Start Early: Begin your scholarship search well in advance of deadlines.
Meet All Requirements: Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before applying.
Craft a Compelling Essay: Your essay is your opportunity to showcase your personality, goals, and achievements.
Seek Strong Recommendations: Request letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors who know you well.
Proofread Carefully: Ensure your application is free of grammatical errors and typos.
Demonstrate Financial Need: Clearly articulate your financial situation and how the scholarship will help you achieve your academic goals.
Highlight Community Involvement: Showcase your involvement in community service, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles.
Follow Instructions: Adhere to all application instructions and deadlines.

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