Karen and Steve Barrs are equipping Virginians with the tools they need to strengthen their lives, families, and community. The Barrs created EquipVA, a scholarship fund for college students working toward a professional certification at Rappahannock Community College or Thomas Nelson Community College.
Karen and Steve Barrs
Owners, Little England Mercantile
Supporter-Created
Scholarships and Fellowships
Whether you’d like to establish a scholarship in memory of a loved one or your organization wants to create a fellowship program to support emerging leaders in a specific career or geographic area, the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education has the experience and expertise to guide you.
Some of the supporter-created scholarships and fellowships that we’ve helped to establish include:
EquipVA Scholarship Fund
Workforce Training program led by Karen and Steve Barrs to create scholarship opportunities for Virginia’s community college students. If you’re interested in pursuing a short-term training program that leads to career and job growth, then this scholarship may be a good fit for you.
Veterans Last Dollar Fund
This scholarship program is designed to assist veterans with transitioning to civilian life. Consider this scholarship if you’ve already been discharged or if your discharged is coming soon and you are ready to plan your next steps.
Florence Levine Berman Scholarship
Ms. Berman emigrated with her family to the U.S. far from the devastating effects of the Holocaust. She came to realize that through all the sacrifice, one thing was a constant beacon of hope: education. Ms. Berman became a champion of the community college concept and continued her education throughout her life via community college classes. Her daughter, Eleanor Saslaw, a member of the State Board of Community Colleges, established the Florence Levine Berman Scholarship in honor of her mother’s love of learning.
LaVonne Parker Ellis Scholarship
A member of the State Board of Community Colleges, LaVonne Parker Ellis lived, breathed, and loved community college education. She established a scholarship in 2015 that included the VFCCE in her estate plans, and today her spirit lives on in ongoing support for students who receive her scholarship.
Chris A. Lumsden Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship serves as a tribute to Mr. Lumsden, an exemplary leader in health care and champion for higher education. These funds provide financial assistance to students at Southside Virginia or Danville Community Colleges and lead to job placement within Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital.
Potomac Health Foundation Fellowship
The Potomac Health Foundation Fellows Program provides financial assistance and a unique leadership curriculum to second-year students who demonstrate a preference to pursue a career in health care that involves direct patient care or a career that supports healthy communities. Applicants must attend Germanna or Northern Virginia Community College full-time and reside in the following zip codes: 20112, 22025, 22026, 22079, 22125, 22134, 22172, 22191, 22192, 22193, 22554, and 22556.
Dominion Energy Fellowship
The Dominion Energy Fellows Program supports veterans and their immediate family members during their second year of community college with tuition coverage, leadership training, and community service opportunities.
Davenport Early Childhood Development Fellowship
This fellows program operates in partnership with the Ben and Betty Davenport Institute for Early Childhood Development in Danville, Virginia. Second-year students pursuing careers in early childhood education at Danville, Patrick Henry, Virginia Western, or New River Community Colleges are eligible to apply. This fellowship supports students with tuition coverage, leadership training, and community service opportunities.
Valley Proteins Fellowship
The Valley Proteins, Inc. Fellows Program The helps promising second-year, full-time students who attend any Virginia Community College pursue their academic goals and strengthen their leadership skills. In addition to receiving full tuition, the Fellows participate in a unique curriculum of activities designed to expand their community involvement and cultivate a strong foundation for a successful future.
Fellows are required to attend three overnight leadership forums hosted in Richmond and other parts of Virginia. During these sessions, they meet and learn from leaders in state and local government, business, education, and non-profit organizations.
"I've been extremely lucky because of this support system that's permitted me to maximize my education dollars instead of taking on student debt which could limit my job options post-university. My Fellowship means that I can focus on finding a career best suited to me instead of merely one that can pay my student loans."
Samantha
Graduate, Valley Proteins Fellow