June 4, 2025 – 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 1st 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