Unveiling the Washington and Lee Johnson Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide
The Johnson Scholarship at Washington and Lee University (W&L) stands as a beacon of opportunity for exceptional students. This prestigious merit scholarship is designed to recognize and reward students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership qualities, integrity, and the potential to significantly contribute to the intellectual and civic life of both the W&L campus and the wider world.
Scholarship Overview
The Johnson Scholarship, funded by Rupert H. Johnson Jr. and established in 2008, is awarded to approximately 44 incoming first-year students each year, representing about 10% of the freshman class. This substantial award covers tuition and fees, housing and food, and provides an additional $10,000 in funding for a summer experience. In total, the scholarship is worth more than $89,000 per year. Furthermore, students with demonstrated financial need may receive an increased scholarship amount to cover additional costs of attendance, such as textbooks and supplies, travel expenses, and technology costs.
Comprehensive Coverage and Unique Opportunities
The Johnson Scholarship covers tuition and fees, housing and food, and includes $10,000 in funding for a summer experience, totaling over $89,000 annually. The scholarship may be increased for students with financial needs to cover additional costs such as textbooks, travel, and technology.
Every Johnson Scholar receives an additional $10,000 to support summer experiences. Many students will use their $10,000 enhancement funds to pay for the costs associated with a study abroad program or to pay for living expenses while volunteering or interning over the summer. These experiences allow scholars to immerse themselves in new cultures, enhance their resumes, and pursue personal passions.
Johnson Summer Enhancement Funds
Johnson Summer Enhancement Funds offer a stipend of up to $10,000 to Johnson Scholars for domestic, international, and virtual experiences. The purpose of this program is to expose the scholars to new cultures, making them more competitive job applicants, and following personal passions.
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Johnson Opportunity Grants
The Johnson Opportunity Grant program provides funds to support W&L student projects across the country and around the world. These grants are awarded competitively and are open to all undergraduate students at W&L. The Johnson Program provides funds of up to $6,000 to support student projects across the country and around the world.
Eligibility and Application
To be considered for the Johnson Scholarship, interested students must submit a Johnson Scholarship application by December 1st. Note that Washington and Lee University offers Early Decision I (Nov. 1), Early Decision II (Jan. 1) and Regular Decision (Jan. 1) admissions programs. We must receive your Johnson Scholarship application by Dec. Based on previous application cycles, we expect this scholarship to reopen in October 2026.
The scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit, and merit takes many forms at W&L. W&L’s Johnson Scholarship recognizes and rewards students on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated leadership and integrity, and their potential to contribute to the intellectual and civic life of the W&L campus and the world at large in years to come.
The selection process involves a comprehensive review of the applicant's Common Application, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores (if supplied), and personal essay. In addition to the Common Application, a supplemental Johnson Scholarship application, including an additional personal statement, is required.
The Selection Process
Finalists for Johnson Scholarships participate in an on-campus selection event and are notified in late March of their status. Finalists for the Johnson Scholarship will be notified in early February and invited to campus for the scholarship selection competition.
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The scholarship competition event is designed to allow finalists to experience W&L firsthand. This is a chance for you to experience W&L up close by rooming with a current Johnson Scholar, attending classes, and interviewing with faculty, staff and current students.
Notable Johnson Scholars
Johnson Scholars have consistently achieved remarkable success in their academic and professional pursuits. Three recent scholars have won Rhodes Scholarships. W&L is the ONLY liberal arts school to have had more than one Rhodes recipient over the past 10 years, and all three of ours have used the opportunities provided by the Johnson Scholarship Program to build resumes worthy of such an honor. The first class of Johnson Scholars graduated from W&L in 2012. Johnson Scholars go on to do incredible things.
- Tahrington (Tahri) Phillips ’23: A cognitive and behavioral science and English double major, Tahri is Washington and Lee University’s 18th Rhodes Scholar. Tahri has also been honored on campus by the Student Affairs Committee for her commitment to personal scholarship and nurturing the intellectual life at W&L.
- Rafay Hassan ’22: From Lahore, Pakistan, Rafay was looking for a liberal arts university that would give him individualized attention and put his critical thinking skills to the test.
- Kathryn Muensterman ’22: Kathryn has won a $34,000 Beinecke Scholarship to help fund her graduate studies. Each scholar receives $4,000 immediately before graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school.
- Troy Larsen ’22: A math and classics major, Troy has won a highly competitive Goldwater Scholarship, which promotes research careers in science, mathematics and engineering. One of the oldest and most prestigious STEM scholarships in the country, the Goldwater Scholarship aims to identify and support undergraduates who show promise of becoming research leaders in their respective fields and intend to pursue a doctorate degree.
- James Ricks ’21: James has won a Davis Projects for Peace grant for his work with The Oda Foundation, a nonprofit organization co-founded in 2013 by W&L alumnus John Christopher ’09. While abroad, Ricks will work to photograph the region and present the images to be sold to raise money for The Oda Foundation.
Key Dates and Deadlines
The deadline to apply for the Johnson Scholarship is Dec. 1. Note that Washington and Lee University offers Early Decision I (Nov. 1), Early Decision II (Jan. 1) and Regular Decision (Jan. 1) admissions programs. We must receive your Johnson Scholarship application by Dec. Finalists for Johnson Scholarships participate in an on-campus selection event and are notified in late March of their status. Based on previous application cycles, we expect this scholarship to reopen in October 2026.
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