Sponsored by the University of Virginia Alumni Association, The Jefferson Scholars Foundation, of the University of Virginia Alumni Association, awards scholarships on the basis of personal merit to approximately 30 outstanding students each year.

Selection of Jefferson scholars begins with nominations from designated schools in geographical areas around the country by November 1. Every secondary school in the Commonwealth of Virginia is eligible to nominate a student to the competition.

In 2001-2002, the regions outside the Commonwealth are:

• Birmingham, Alabama
• San Francisco, California
• Fairfield Connecticut
• Delaware
• Atlanta, Georgia
• South Georgia
• Chicago Illinois
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Boston, Massachusetts
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Long Island, New York
• New York, New York
• Westchester, New York
• Charlotte and Triad, North Carolina
• Cincinnati, Ohio/Northern Kentucky
• Northeast Ohio
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania
• Central and Upstate South Carolina
• Lowcountry South Carolina/Georgia
• Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Fort Worth, Texas
• Houston, Texas

In addition, all out-of-state and international applicants to the University from schools outside the designated regions whose completed applications are received by January 1 will automatically be considered.

Candidates are screened by the Foundation's regional selection committees, and finalists from all areas assemble at the University in March for four days of interviews, seminars, exams, and social activities. The criteria for selection are excellence in the Jeffersonian ideals of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. Scholarship recipients receive an amount designed to cover the entire cost of attending the University for four years. Eligible schools will be notified of details of the 2002 selection process in the fall of 2001.

For further information, contact the Executive Director, Jefferson Scholars Foundation, P.O. Box 3446, Charlottesville, VA 22903; jeffsch@virginia.edu; www.alumni.virginia.edu.