Jenny Ryder Plum (’01) Rural Educator Scholarship Endowment

An endowed scholarship established by Brian K. Plum (M ’03).

Through this scholarship, the Donor intends to provide financial resources annually to one undergraduate sophomore enrolled in a teacher licensure program, with a GPA of at least 3.0, who demonstrates financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Preference will be given to students planning to teach in a rural county or city in Virginia, with a population of less than 100,000, per the most recent official determination by the U.S. Census Bureau. First year applicants will be asked where they anticipate teaching upon completion of their degree. The scholarship is renewable for three years as long as the recipient remains enrolled in the program, continues to demonstrate financial need, and remains in good academic standing. Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Education, or designee, following the University’s guidelines for awarding scholarships.

As the endowment grows, whether by gifts or appreciation, additional recipients may be prudently added (up to four students – sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate student) as long as individual awards of approximately two thousand dollars each can be made and renewed. At such time when the endowment can support multiple students, the endowment allocation will be split evenly among the students who are receiving the scholarship.