The Community Foundation of the NRV 25-26 Annual Report

CONTINUING SUPPORT DURING COLLEGE

The CFNRV’s Scholarship Program

Virginia Tech Women’s Club members celebrate with ‘26 scholarship recipients at the CFNRV scholarship lunch.

T hroughout their high school career, many educators shares opportunities with students, helps them set deadlines and write essays, and cheers them on along the way. The CFNRV team works with many of these school personnel members to share about our scholarship students and encourage them to apply. And it is working: we see dozens of applications from high school students every year. For students already enrolled in college or a trade/ technical school, scholarships can be harder to find. That’s why seeing current college students, especially previous scholarship recipients return to apply, is always exciting for our team. This year, 34.9% of our recipients are current college students. More than 72% of those college students had previously received a scholarship from us. students have the support of teachers, guidance counselors, and other school staff. This team of

The CFNRV’s scholarship manager, Laura Pynn, knows the power of funding students year after year. She’s overseen the growth of our program since 2007 and watched the need for scholarships grow each year. Some of her favorite moments in the scholarship process include watching students progress through their degrees and helping those students along their educational paths. “It’s my passion to help these students realize their dreams,” said Laura. “When we see them thriving in college and making their own way, that’s everything to me.” There were only a handful of scholarship funds when Laura started at the foundation in 2007. Now there are nearly 60 funds. Additionally, for the first time ever, in 2026, we are funding more than 100 students. Our team is honored to help each of these deserving students.

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I truly believe that the cost of education is the biggest factor preventing young people from pursuing their dreams, and you’re doing extremely admirable work in helping young students overcome that issue.” Levi Blevins is a rising junior at Radford University double majoring in Anthropology & Digital Arts. Levi is one of two recipients of a ‘26 Warren Lloyd Holtzman Freedom Scholarship.

Levi Blevins

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