105 high school seniors from Lafayette, Jamestown and Warhill High Schools were awarded $200,955 in scholarships from the W-JCC Scholarship Fund at the Williamsburg Community Foundation. Learn more at WilliamsburgCommunityFoundation.org.

June 4, 2025, Williamsburg, VA – At its annual awards ceremony on June 1, Williamsburg Community Foundation awarded 105 scholarships totaling $200,955 to graduating students from Jamestown, Lafayette, Warhill High Schools through the Williamsburg-James City County Scholarship Fund.

What began as the Lafayette Education Fund in 1974 with just seven scholarships totaling $1,500 has grown into an important source of support for local students pursuing post-high school education. The Foundation now oversees a mix of annual and endowed scholarship funds, allowing donors to make both immediate and lasting impact.

Scholarships that range from $1,500 to $5,000 are made possible by generous support from local individuals, families, civic groups and businesses who understand the value of scholarships in making post-secondary education affordable. Sixty-two named scholarships, many offered in honor or memory of loved ones, help create a legacy of opportunities for local students.

With a total of $200,955 in scholarships, 2025 is another record-breaking year for awards from the Foundation’s W-JCC Scholarship Fund.

As college costs continue to rise, many donors are choosing to keep eligibility criteria broad, ensuring that students with significant financial need — including many who are the first in their family to attend college — can access these scholarships.

This year, 20 first-generation college students were awarded scholarships.

“Each of these scholarships tells a story,” said Nancy Coté Sullivan, President & CEO of WCF. “In one recent conversation, a donor shared with me that she herself struggled financially as a young person and subsequently postponed her college career. She wants to give back and support students who find themselves facing a similar reality.”

This year’s scholarship recipients were honored at a special awards ceremony sponsored by 1^st Advantage Credit Union, whose support helped make the celebration possible.

A full list of this year’s scholarship recipients is available on the Foundation’s website: Most Recent W-JCC Scholarship Recipients - WCF.

About Williamsburg Community Foundation

The Williamsburg Community Foundation is a public charity founded in 1999 as the Greater Williamsburg Community Trust to connect people who care with causes that matter. With assets of over $31 million, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $1.3 million last year in the areas of education, arts and culture, children and young adults, environment and conservation, health & community wellness and economic mobility, and senior services. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $13.6 million to nonprofit organizations and students in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.williamsburgcommunityfoundation.org or call (757) 259-1660.