Awards, Scholarships, and Financial Aid

University Financial Aid Options

Several options for financial aid are offered through the Virginia Tech Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid.

College Award and Recognition Opportunities

Visit the Award Opportunities website to learn more about the scholarships and awards that students have an opportunity to apply for.

College and Department Scholarship Opportunities

More than 500 scholarships valued at $200 to $5,000 each with a total value of more than $750,000 are awarded each year to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Scholarship decisions are generally based on academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, genuine interest in a major, and financial need. Almost all scholarships listed are awarded by the College or a specific department in the College.

Students wishing to be considered for any scholarships in the College must complete the online college scholarship application form. For more information about scholarships in the college, please contact Cindy Beatty, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Office of Academic Programs, 1060 Litton Reaves Hall (0334), Blacksburg, VA 24061, (540) 231-6503, or beatty@vt.edu. Apply for scholarships.

In addition to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences application, all students wishing to be considered for college scholarships are strongly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A majority of the college scholarships are based on financial need and only students with documented financial need will be considered for those scholarships. Even though some applicants believe they may not have a documented financial need, having a FAFSA on file will increase opportunities for any scholarships and financial aid available in the college or university. The 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available after January 1st 2010. Virginia Tech’s priority deadline for the 2010-2011 aid year is March 1, 2010. This is a change from previous years when the deadline was March 11th.

College-Wide Scholarships Awarded by the Office of Academic Programs

John R. Dawkins Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates on the basis of financial need and relevant family circumstances. First preference is given to students from Greenbrier County and Monroe County West Virginia. Second preference is given to students from other areas in West Virginia and Virginia. FAFSA required.

Gladys S. Decker Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates on the basis of scholastic achievement, good character, and financial need. Preference is given to graduates of the Brentsville District High School in Nokesville, Virginia and to graduates of other secondary schools located in Prince William County, Virginia. FAFSA required.

Dean L. B. Dietrick Freshman Merit Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded annually to an entering freshman on the basis of academic merit, leadership potential, and extracurricular activities in high school.

Charles R. Drake Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded each year to incoming freshmen. Recipients must be Virginia residents with SAT scores of at least 1000 and a GPA of at least 3.0. They must also be in the upper 25% of their high school class, from a rural background, and planning to work in the agricultural industry after graduation. May be renewed for four years if GPA is maintained above 3.0.

Garnett H. Harvey Memorial Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen. First preference is given to students from Amherst County or Nelson County. Second preference is given to students from any locality in Virginia. May be renewed for subsequent years for recipients who remain in good academic standing.

Maury A. Hubbard Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded each year to entering freshmen and returning or transfer students based on academic merit, including Biological Systems Engineering.

Cyrus H. McCormick Undergraduate Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded annually to both freshmen and outstanding returning undergraduates in agriculture and life sciences, including Biological Systems Engineering. Academic merit, financial need and extracurricular achievements are considered in the selection. FAFSA required.

Reese McCormick, Jr. Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to entering freshmen from Virginia on the basis of academic achievement. First preference shall be given to a student who is a member of the Corps of Cadets.

Reese McCormick, Sr. Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to entering freshmen on the basis of merit and financial need. First preference is given to students from Pittsylvania County and second preference to students from the city of Danville. Third preference is given to students from any locality in Virginia. FAFSA required.

James L. McDonald Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded based upon need to a resident of Tazewell County, Virginia with preference given to incoming freshmen. Recipients must be in good academic standing to be eligible for the scholarship in subsequent years. FAFSA required.

Gordon R. Miller Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and financial need. FAFSA required.

Walter S. Newman Memorial Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded annually to entering freshmen. Recipients must be from Southwest Virginia and from a rural background. Academic achievement, financial need, extracurricular activities, and leadership potential are also considered in the selection. May be renewed for four years if GPA is maintained at 3.0 or above. FAFSA required.

Dean James R. Nichols Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded based on scholarship, leadership, and financial need. Preference is given to Virginia residents. Freshmen and returning students are eligible. FAFSA required.

Senator Robert J. Noell and Randolph A. Noell Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded on a combination of merit and need to freshmen and returning undergraduates with Virginia residency. Preference is given to residents from the city of Radford, Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Roanoke and Pulaski Counties. May be renewed for up to four years if satisfactory GPA is maintained and progress towards a degree is being made. FAFSA required.

William R. Powell Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded annually to a freshman, returning, or transfer students on the basis of good character, scholastic achievement, and financial need. FAFSA required.

Pulley-Louden Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate with Virginia residency on the basis of financial need. First preference is given to students from Southampton County and Sussex County, Virginia. May be renewed for up to three years providing satisfactory progress towards a degree. FAFSA required.

Tom W. Poole Memorial Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate on the basis of financial need and strong character. May be renewed for four years if a 2.5 GPA is maintained. FAFSA required.

John Lee Pratt Merit Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, school and community service, extracurricular activities and expressed interest in study of animal nutrition.

John Lee Pratt Animal Nutrition Senior Research Scholarship Program: Scholarships are awarded annually to rising seniors to aid in conducting senior research projects under the guidance of faculty advisors. A research proposal and letter of application from the student and his or her faculty advisor are required.

Roanoke Valley Horsemen's Association Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and academic performance to entering freshmen from the Roanoke area who are planning to pursue a major in pre-veterinary medicine or a related field. FAFSA required.

William Powers Sadler Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded annually to freshmen and returning students on the basis of academic merit and financial need. FAFSA required.

Southern States Cooperative Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded each year to entering freshmen. These may be renewed for three additional years if the recipient maintains a satisfactory academic record and remains a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Recipients must be the son or daughter of a producer of agriculture and/or have completed two years or more of active membership in a 4-H Club or FFA Chapter. Preference is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding interest and activities in agricultural related areas.

Spillman Family Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates from Culpepper County with consideration given to students majoring in Agricultural and Applied Economics. May be renewed for subsequent years.

John Alton “Tip” Spivey Scholarship:  Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need and any relevant family circumstances, academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, and community service. FAFSA required.

State Fair of Virginia Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded each fall to entering freshmen who are Virginia residents and who have been active in 4-H or FFA for at least two years. Recipients are selected on the basis of high school academic achievement, character, leadership potential, and financial need. FAFSA required.

Virginia Beef Corporation Scholarship: Two scholarships awarded annually. One recipient must be majoring in Animal and Poultry Sciences or Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences with an Agricultural and Applied Economics minor.

William Whateley Tanner Memorial Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student majoring in Animal and Poultry Sciences or Horticulture. The recipient must be a Virginia resident and is selected on the basis of financial need and academic achievement. FAFSA required.

T.J. Thompson, Jr. Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded annually to a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences who has shown the most academic improvement during his/her years at the university.

Tucker Livestock Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, leadership and citizenship. Preference is given to residents of Madison, Culpeper, Green, Orange, Page and Rappahannock Counties. This scholarship is also available to students in the two-year Agricultural Technology program. FAFSA required.

Archa Vaughan, Jr. Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate student on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, and extracurricular leadership and service. FAFSA required.

Virginia County Agents Foundation Scholarship: A scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate who is a Virginia resident.

Virginia Crop Production Association, Inc. Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded annually to Virginia resident students in Horticulture or Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences on the basis of academic merit, extracurricular achievement, career plans, and financial need. FAFSA required.

Virginia Farm Bureau Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to students whose parents are Farm Bureau members and who are in good standing. Activity in the Va Tech Collegiate Farm Bureau Young Farmer Program is preferred.

Virginia Tech Agriculture Alumni Organization Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, financial need, and community service. FAFSA required.

Charles W. Wampler, Sr. Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded annually on the basis of scholastic achievement, good character, financial need, or demonstrated leadership ability. FAFSA required.

Charles W. Wampler, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded to undergraduates and graduates seeking a career in cooperative extension.

Marion A. and Annie W. Williams Scholarship
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need. Preference is given to students from
Franklin County, Patrick County, Henry County, Floyd County, and the state of Virginia, respectively. FAFSA required.

John and Pat White Scholarship: Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, financial need and any relevant family circumstances, and community service. Preference is given to a son or daughter of an alumnus or alumna of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. FAFSA required.

W. R. Winslow Trust Agriculture Scholarships: Scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 are awarded to students from Maryland, North Carolina, or Washington, D.C. or Virginia. Scholarships are based on financial need. FAFSA required.

From time to time certain scholarships are made available to help increase diversity within the College. If applicants believe they would qualify for diversity awards, please contact the Multicultural Academic Opportunities Program (MAOP) office at (540) 231-5023 to check on availability of awards for the coming school year.

Departmental Scholarships Offered Within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Please contact the person indicated for more information about specific scholarships in individual departments.

Agricultural and Applied Economics: Contact Dr. Dan Taylor, 323-B Hutcheson Hall, (540) 231-5032, taylord@vt.edu . Fifteen scholarships that range in value from $500 to $1,500.

Agricultural and Extension Education: Contact Dr. Tom Broyles, 268 Litton-Reaves Hall, (540) 231-8188, tbroyles@vt.edu. Ten scholarships that range in value from $500 to $1,000 available for both majors and minors (applications due by March 1).

Agricultural Technology: Contact Ms. Brenda French, 1060 Litton-Reaves Hall, (540) 231-7649, agtech@vt.edu. Fifteen to 25 scholarships valued at $250 to $1,000.

Animal and Poultry Sciences: Contact Dr. Dan Eversole, 3440 Litton-Reaves Hall, (540) 231- 4738, deversol@vt.edu. Twenty-eight scholarships that range in value from $500 to $1,000, at least two of which are available for new students in the Poultry emphasis (separate application required). For all other APSC scholarships, new students completing the College application will automatically be considered.

Biochemistry: Contact Dr. Tom Sitz, 124 Engel Hall, (540) 231-4970/6315, tositz@vt.edu or Dr. David Bevan, 201 Fralin Hall, (540) 231-5040, drbevan@.edu. Approximately ten scholarships that range in value from $500 to $1,000.

Biological Systems Engineering: Contact Dr. Mary Leigh Wolfe, 305 Seitz Hall, (540) 231-6092, mlwolfe@vt.edu. Approximately 10 scholarships that range in value from $1,000 to $1,500.

Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences: Contact Dr. Erik Ervin, 335 Smyth Hall, (540) 231-5208, ervin@vt.edu. Fifteen to 20 scholarships ranging from $500 to full tuition.

Dairy Science: Contact Dr. Katharine Knowlton, 2435 Litton-Reaves Hall, (540) 231-5287, kknowlto@vt.edu. At least 27 scholarships that range in value from $500 to $1,500 each. http://www.dasc.vt.edu

Entomology: Contact Dr. Rick Fell, 324 Price Hall, (540) 231-7207, rfell@vt.edu. Associate degree scholarships with emphasis in urban pest management available.

Environmental Science: Contact Dr. Erik Ervin, 335 Smyth Hall, (540) 231-5208, ervin@vt.edu. Approximately 15 scholarships that range in value from $500 to full tuition.

Food and Science and Technology: Contact Dr. Bill Eigel, 115 Food Science & Technology Building, (540) 231-6877, weigel@vt.edu. At least ten scholarships that range in value from $500 to $3,000.

Horticulture: Contact Dr. Alan McDaniel, 401-D Saunders Hall, (540) 231-5781, alanmcd@vt.edu. At least 25 scholarships ranging in value from $250 to $2,000.

Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise : Contact Ms. Laurie Bianchi, 338 Wallace Hall, (540) 231-5987, lbianchi@vt.edu.

To qualify for scholarships and other financial aid, you must submit the Free Application for Student Aid to the College Scholarship Service.

Important Scholarship Application Information

Current Students