Photo by Matt Kelly

April 6, 2004 -- The Jefferson Scholars Foundation Board of Directors announced Friday the 39 recipients of 2004 Jefferson Scholarships — full scholarships awarded to top incoming first-year U.Va. students.

The 24-year-old program offers four-year scholarships that include tuition, room and board, books and other University expenses to incoming students who exemplify exceptional potential in the areas of scholarship, leadership and citizenship.

This year’s winners were named after a rigorous national selection process that began with 836 nominees. The list was pared to 95 finalists. who were invited to Charlottesville to participate in the Jefferson Scholars Foundation's National Selection Weekend March 26-28.

The average combined SAT score for the Jefferson Scholarship recipients is 1,512. This average includes 18 students with perfect scores of 800 on at least one portion of their SAT exam. Of the 39 recipients, 33 have received recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, and 30 are members of their schools' National Honor Societies or Cum Laude Societies. All rank in the top 10 percent of their classes. The recipients are a diverse group of students who have excelled in a wide area of endeavors outside of the classroom.

“Those selected are all devoted to the pursuit of excellence as reflected in their rich diversity of interests and backgrounds,” said James H. Wright, executive director of the foundation. “They are being sought by the nation's most highly selective institutions and have the potential to benefit the University in a most substantial way.

“We owe an indescribable debt of gratitude to our nearly 800 friends and alumni volunteers across the country who help identify and select the candidates. Year after year, I am amazed at the quality of students who are nominated.”

Established in 1980 and financed entirely with private funds, Jefferson Scholarships are awarded solely on the basis of merit and are designed to help the University attract the most promising student leaders in the country. Among the students selected in prior years are three who subsequently were named Rhodes Scholars.

Students do not apply to become Jefferson Scholars, but must either be nominated by their schools or identified through the admissions process. More than 2,000 schools are eligible to nominate scholarship candidates, including every secondary school in Virginia.