Endowed Scholarships

Each spring, UVA Wise hosts the annual Spring Scholarship Luncheon where students meet their scholarship donors, enjoy conversations over a delicious meal, and celebrate the impact of scholarships.

UVA Wise is pleased to announce the following newly endowed scholarship funds as well as the donors who have made them possible.

2025 Newly Endowed Scholarship Funds

Twenty-One New Endowed Scholarship Funds and Five New Endowed Operational Fund were announced at the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon

The Buchanan County Legacy Scholarship was established in 2024 by Taylor Burgess. It will be awarded to students who are residents of Buchanan County, Virginia. The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, room, board and/or experiential learning.

The Howard E. Cummins Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Catherine Cummins. The scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, room, board, and books and will be awarded to need-based undergraduate students pursuing a career in education with a special interest in secondary education. Preference will be given to education students from Southwest Virginia.

The Ely Academic Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2025 by Winston and Tami Ely. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled at the College at Wise.

The Bill Gatton Athletic Scholarship was established by the Bill Gatton Foundation in 2024. It will provide need-based scholarships to students at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It is the Donor’s first preference that scholarships be awarded to students who are participating on an intercollegiate athletic team; a second preference is for student-athletes who are first-generation students.

The Bill Gatton Technology and Data Analytics Scholarship was established in 2024 by the Bill Gatton Foundation. It will provide need-based scholarships to students at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It is the Donor’s first preference that scholarships be awarded to students who are participating in the technology and data analytics curriculum. Priority will be given to students who are first-generation. 

The Bill Gatton Academic Scholarship was established by the Bill Gatton Foundation in 2024. It will provide need-based scholarships to students at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It is the Donor’s first preference that the need-based scholarships be awarded to first-generation students; a second preference is that the need-based scholarships be awarded to students who have demonstrated academic promise by achieving a 3.0 or higher grade-point-average.

Sarah P. Gibson & George P. Gibson Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by George P. Gibson. It will provide provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It will support students who are residents of the far Southwest Virginia region or Northeast Tennessee region, with a second preference for students residing within a three-hour radius of the College, which is the College’s primary service area.

The Pat Gilliam Tennis Bicentennial Scholars Fund was established in 2024 by Richard B. Gilliam, Sr. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship will be awarded to students participating on the women’s tennis team; with a second preference for students participating on the men’s tennis team.

The Amelia J. Harris Study Abroad Scholarship was established in 2024 by Elsey Harris.  The scholarship will be awarded to worthy and deserving students enrolled full-time at the College at Wise. Priority will be given first to students enrolled in the foreign language program.

The Napoleon Hill Foundation Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by the Napoleon Hill Foundation. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students who are Napoleon Hill Scholars selected from among all academic disciplines to participate in this prestigious leadership development program. Income from this scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, room, board and an experiential learning opportunity. The experiential learning opportunity will be an option in the future when the Fund is generating sufficient distributions.

The Sister Bernie Kenny Scholarship was established in 2025  by Dr. Joseph F. Smiddy. It will be awarded to students who are pursuing a degree in nursing with a preference given to students who are residents of Dickenson County. Awards will be based on need with the understanding that students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5.

The Kiwanis Club of Coeburn Scholarship was established in 2024 by the Kiwanis Club of Coeburn. It will provide scholarships to students who reside within the area served by Eastside High School, with a second preference to students who are from far SWVA. Students must demonstrate a commitment to service in the community and encourage recipients to serve in civic organizations once they graduate.

The Wayne R. Lane and Linda A. Lane Nursing Bicentennial Scholarship Fund was established in 2024 by Wayne Lane. The scholarship will provide need-based scholarships. It will be awarded to students who are enrolled in the nursing program with a preference to students who reside within a three-hour radius of the College at Wise, which defines the College’s immediate service area.

The Scott and Rhonda Perkins Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Scott and Rhonda Perkins. This scholarship may be used for tuition, fees, room, board, and books and will be awarded to students participating in an intercollegiate athletic program; as a second preference the scholarship can be awarded to students who are residents of coalfield regions.

The E. Lee Showalter Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Jane Showalter. The scholarship will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need as determined by the College at Wise Office of Financial Aid.

The Jerry Wayne Strange Scholarship was established in 2024 by Jerry Wayne Strange. The scholarship will be awarded to worthy and deserving students enrolled full-time at UVA Wise. Priority will be given first to students from Pound, Virginia, and then to students from southwest Virginia.

The Joe Gary and Lanette Street Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Joe and Lanette Street. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students enrolled at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It will be awarded to students who are residents of Buchanan County, with a second preference for students who reside within a three-hour radius of the College at Wise, which defines the College’s immediate service area.

The Sykes and Alexander Bicentennial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Terrence Sykes & William Alexander. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students at the College at Wise who demonstrate financial need. It will be awarded to students who are residents of the Appalachian region with priority for students who reside within a three-hour radius of the College at Wise, which defines the College’s immediate service area. Preference will be given to students who are involved in the literary journal, currently known as the Jimson Weed.

The Dr. Adam Tolbert Scholarship was established in 2024 by Adam Tolbert. It will be awarded to first-generation students, with first priority to students from Southwest Virginia.

The David L. Williams Scholarship Fund was established in 2024 by David L. Williams. It will provide support to students who transfer to UVA Wise from a community college system with preference for Mountain Empire Community College, and with the far southwest Virginia region as a second preference.

The Anne & Gene Worrell Bicentennial Scholarship was established by the Anne & Gene Worrell Foundation in 2024. It will provide need-based scholarships to undergraduate students. The scholarship will be awarded to students who transfer from community colleges, with a second preference for those who attended Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College, and Virginia Highlands Community College.

UVA Wise is pleased to announce the 2025 Tice Total Achievement Awards. The awards are presented to students who honor and encourage family values, community service, cooperation, creativity and scholarship. Students displaying these qualities are nominated by College faculty and staff members and selected by the Tice Award Committee. The award is made possible through a generous endowment created by Dr. Frederick Gordon Tice, a 1939 alumnus of the University of Virginia.

Tice Total Achievement Recipients

• Buffy Bell is double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration and plans to become a Certified Public Accountant. She is a peer mentor for Student Support Services and has been committed to service as evidenced by her participation each year in the annual Day of Service at UVA Wise. She has a deep love of animals and previously served as a volunteer with PAWS of Southwest Virginia, which is the local chapter of Performing Animal Welfare Society, providing sheltering and adoption of homeless cats and dogs, and educating the community to inspire compassionate action for animals.
• Taylor R. Cochran is majoring in Health and Wellness with a minor in Psychology and plans on becoming a pediatric occupational therapist. Taylor is an intern in the Office of Student Engagement, a Junior Senator on the Student Government Association, and Secretary of the UVA Wise chapter of Circle K International, which focuses on developing leaders by offering unique service, leadership and fellowship opportunities that change the world and the lives of its members. Taylor is a peer leader and freshman mentor, and an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success. As a Carl W. Smith Scholar, Taylor participated in a study abroad opportunity and went to London and Paris last summer. She is an assistant high school varsity softball coach.
• Tzu-Wei Huang is double majoring in Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism. Wei is an intern in the Advocacy and Opportunity division where he has organized a Boba Tea Event to introduce the UVA Wise community to Taiwanese boba tea, promoting cultural exchange, and has represented his home country at international events on campus. He also assisted with planning and executing the annual Community Egg-Tastic Egg Hunt. Wei, who excels as a member of the College’s golf team, also has volunteered at Lonesome Pine Golf Club, teaching golf to aspiring young golfers. He plans to apply the knowledge he has gained at UVA Wise to help prosper his family's business in Thailand.
• Caleb M. Quiroga is majoring in History and English, and plans to go on to earn my PhD in United States History. He is committed to active citizenship and has served as an intern to Delegate Kathy Tran’s campaign as well as holding political roles in high school organizations including Chairman of the Virginia High School Democrats. Caleb has a close relative who is an immigrant who might be impacted by recent changes in government policies. Caleb is working to revise his future plans should this relative return to their home country. He stays informed on regional politics but is especially interested in Kentucky politics. Caleb represents the Year-in-Wise students on the Student Government Association, serves as the Vice President of the Latino Student Alliance and is a member of the Spanish Club.
• Brynna J. Robinson is majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Data Science. Brynna plans to further her studies in Data Analytics and become a statistician. She is a member of the Darden Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Zeta Math & Science Honor Society, and is a Napoleon Hill Scholar. She has especially enjoyed volunteering at Kids Day in STEM-H, which UVA Wise hosts each fall. Brynna is involved in the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing project, the Sigma Zeta Math & Science competition, and the annual Community Egg-Tastic Egg Hunt on campus each spring. Brynna is intern in Strategic Engagement and Government Relations.