2024 CFNRV AR_FINAL_FB

HELPING PUT COLLEGE WITHIN REACH Our Scholarship Program

I n 2002, the CFNRV awarded its first scholarship from the T. Scott Eaton Scholarship Fund. John and Peggy Eaton, both early CFNRV donors and volunteers, established the scholarship in memory of their son, Scott, who passed away in 2001 at the age of 39. Scott was a fixture in the theater department at Christiansburg High School and continued his education in the arts at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. One of his final wishes was to pass his love of fine arts and theater on to other young people. More than 20 years later, his legacy continues through the 30 students his fund has supported. Today, the Eatons are joined by dozens of donors who have established and contributed to more than 50 endowed scholarship funds at the CFNRV, with the majority created to memorialize a cherished family or community member. Annually, students apply through a single application to be considered for multiple scholarship awards, and a team of more than 30 volunteers reviews the applications and matches students to each fund’s unique selection criteria. Some funds prioritize documented financial need and community involvement, while others focus on academics and extracurricular activities. Such wide

ranging criteria ensure that there is a scholarship to fit almost any applicant, including students pursuing degrees at two- and four-year colleges and universities as well as trade and technical schools. This year’s recipients are studying nursing, education, mortuary sciences, engineering, business, music, veterinary medicine, dairy science, and heavy-duty diesel technology, among many other majors. As the number of scholarship funds has grown, so has the number of students funded, with more than 100 students supported in 2024 alone. The average scholarship amount has also risen in response to the growing cost of higher education and the continued generosity of our donors. In 2014, the average scholarship award was $885, while in 2024 it grew to $1,670. Scholarship awards may be used for any educational expense including tuition, room and board, fees, and books. The CFNRV’s Scholarship Program remains the fastest growing aspect of our work. More than 1,200 students have benefitted from the generous donors who establish scholarship funds. We are grateful for their continued investment and for their belief in the remarkable young people who receive these awards.

SCHOLARSHIPS ALL-TIME TOTALS

1,213 Number of scholarships awarded

1 in 5 AWARDEES First generation college students* *Tracked since 2014

$1.26 MILLION In scholarships awarded