Gift benefits students

The University has received a gift of more than $1.3 million from the estate of educator Edward Cooke to fund scholarships for needy students, particularly students from the Petersburg area.

Cooke, who died in 1999, was a graduate of Virginia Tech and earned a master’s degree and doctorate in education at U.Va. in the 1960s. He devoted his life to public education, spending 37 years as an administrator in the Prince George County School System and 10 years in the Richmond Public School System before his retirement in 1986.

Cooke left the majority of his assets to U.Va. and Virginia Tech, specifying that the funds be used for scholarships. In keeping with Cooke’s wishes, U.Va. will give preference to needy students and to students from Dinwiddie, Prince George and Sussex counties and the cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights.and higher rankings.