Walentas Scholars Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Jefferson Scholars Foundation

Program Overview

The Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships recognize students for demonstrated excellence and exceptional potential in leadership, scholarship, and engaged citizenship. The Walentas Scholarship specifically supports first-generation, college-bound students, while both programs aim to develop leaders and scholars who pursue their academic passions. Scholars become part of a Foundation community that provides guidance and a range of enrichment activities throughout their time at the University of Virginia. The programs emphasize long-term personal and professional development in addition to financial support.

Description: Competitive scholarships awarded to students who show leadership potential, strong scholarship, and commitment to engaged citizenship; Walentas is designated for first-generation students.

• Targeted at high-potential student leaders and scholars
• Walentas reserved for first-generation, college-bound students
• Focuses on both academic and civic development

Award Value and Duration

The scholarships provide comprehensive funding for up to eight semesters of full-time study at the University of Virginia. Coverage includes tuition, room, board, books, and miscellaneous expenses for the recipient’s undergraduate enrollment period. Awards are intended to remove financial barriers so scholars can fully engage in academic and extracurricular opportunities. Receipt of the scholarship is tied to full-time enrollment at UVA.

Award Value: Full scholarship covering tuition, room, board, books, and miscellaneous expenses for eight semesters at the University of Virginia, based on full-time enrollment.

• Full cost of attendance supported for the undergraduate term
• Must maintain full-time enrollment at UVA
• Designed to enable full participation in campus programs

Eligibility and Usage Restrictions

Nominees are expected to demonstrate excellence or the potential for excellence as leaders, scholars, and engaged citizens. Walentas Scholarship nominees must additionally be first-generation, college-bound students. Both the Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are limited to students who enroll at the University of Virginia and cannot be transferred to other institutions. Eligibility focuses on character, academic promise, and civic engagement rather than a single academic pathway.

Eligibility: Candidates should exhibit leadership, academic promise, and engaged citizenship; Walentas nominees must be first-generation and college-bound; awards are restricted to enrollment at UVA.

• Selection based on leadership, scholarship, and citizenship
• Walentas requires first-generation college status
• Awards are applicable only at the University of Virginia

Enrichment Opportunities

The Foundation provides a broad spectrum of enrichment opportunities designed to expand scholars’ academic, professional, and global perspectives. Examples include international travel, research collaborations with Jefferson Fellows, career development and networking programs, an Institute for Leadership and Citizenship, alumni connections, an exploratory fund, and a speaker series. These activities are intended to complement scholars’ academic pursuits and support experiential learning. Participation helps scholars build skills, networks, and real-world experience.

• International travel and global learning experiences
• Research partnerships and faculty mentorship
• Career development, networking, and leadership programming

Support for First-Generation Students

Walentas Scholars receive targeted supports in addition to the general enrichment opportunities offered to all scholars. Incoming Walentas Scholars participate in a Scholar Summit before their first year to ease the transition to university life and begin community building. They also have access to a dedicated program director and Foundation staff for guidance throughout their UVA experience. Scholars may further access UVA’s institutional resources for first-generation students.

Support: Pre-arrival Scholar Summit, dedicated program staff, and access to university resources to facilitate transition and academic success for first-generation students.

• Structured pre-matriculation community-building activities
• Ongoing program staff support and advising
• Integration with UVA’s first-generation resources

Selection Criteria

Selection emphasizes demonstrated excellence or the potential for excellence in leadership, scholarship, and engaged citizenship. Reviewers seek nominees who are likely to thrive academically and contribute meaningfully to their communities. The Walentas Scholarship adds the requirement that nominees are first-generation and college-bound. Selection evaluates a candidate’s past achievements, leadership capacity, and future promise rather than prescribing a specific academic major or pathway.

Selection Criteria: Excellence or potential in leadership, scholarship, and engaged citizenship; Walentas nominees must be first-generation.

• Holistic evaluation of leadership and scholarship
• Consideration of civic engagement and future potential
• Walentas requires first-generation status in addition to core criteria