|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
For
Jounalists ![[GO]](../images/gobtn.gif){kind=small}
|
|
 |
|
|
Greene County Grad Nabs U.Va. Scholarship July 16, 1999 -- Greene County resident Jeanie Lynn Schoolcraft has received the University of Virginia’s 1999-2000 Faculty/Staff Scholarship, given to the child of a U.Va. employee who is offered admission to the school. Schoolcraft is only the second person to receive this $2,000 undergraduate scholarship, established in January 1997. Schoolcraft, an 18-year-old June graduate of William Monroe High School, chose U.Va. due to its national reputation and because she’s familiar with the school, she said. Jeanie’s mother, Valerie, has worked full-time at U.Va. since 1986. Currently, she’s an administrative assistant at the Learning Needs and Evaluation Center, a post she’s held since 1991. She’s also a student at the University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, part-time, which she hopes to earn in December 2000. Like mother, like daughter: Jeanie plans to take psychology courses, along with her other favorite subject, Spanish, when she begins her studies this fall. She wants to explore U.Va.’s Study Abroad program, too. "I’d like to visit Spain," she said. Thirty-five children of U.Va. employees applied for the scholarship, which is awarded based on the applicants’ financial need and academic and extra-curricular criteria, said James Ramsey Jr., associate director of financial aid. The Admissions Office provides information on the students, said Ramsey, who called Jeanie’s record "incredibly well-rounded." Salutatorian of her high school class, Schoolcraft attended the Governor’s School for the Humanities last summer and was named in "Who’s Who" among American high school students. She was also 1998-99 president of her school’s chapter of the Beta Club, a national organization dedicated to academic excellence and community service; a member of the band and chorus throughout high school; and second-place winner in this year’s regional science fair competition. Jeanie attributes her academic success, in part, to several public school teachers, who "made the effort to get to know you and pushed you to learn and think for yourself," she said. Two she cited were high school science teachers George Haney and Liz Hunter. Jeanie also gives credit to her family. In addition to her mother, Jeanie lives in Ruckersville with her younger sister, Katie, and her father, Gary, who works at Sears and is a chaplain’s assistant in the National Guard. The Schoolcrafts have lived in Greene for 16 years. When the scholarship was established, U.Va. President John T. Casteen III pledged the University would match, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000 contributed by employees. Noting that many other colleges have long offered tuition relief to employees’ children, Casteen said this new scholarship program "helps assure the opportunity is there for those who have grown up in this community." U.Va. employs 470 Greene County residents. A U.Va. workforce of 9,030 live in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area, which includes the surrounding counties of Greene, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison, Nelson and Orange. Valerie Schoolcraft said she hopes sharing the word about her family’s good fortune will generate more contributions to the endowment so more children can receive these scholarships.
For further information Valerie and Jeanie Schoolcraft can be reached at home at (804) 985-3463. Valerie may also be contacted at work at (804) 243-5184. Contact: Rebecca Arrington, (804) 924-7189. |
|
|
FOR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: please contact
the Office of University Relations at (804) 924-7116. Television
reporters should contact the TV News Office at (804) 924-7550. |
 |
|
Top news site edited by Jane
Ford (jford@virginia.edu); maintained
by Karen
Asher (kac@virginia.edu); releases posted
by Suzanne Raileanu (sr3r@virginia.edu). |