Jefferson Scholarship

Scholarship program at the University of Virginia

Award

Jefferson Scholarship

The Rotunda at the University

Awarded for| Merit-based to high school seniors
Description| full scholarship to attend the University of Virginia
Sponsored by| Jefferson Scholars Foundation
Location| Charlottesville, Virginia, US
Post-nominals| JS
Established| 1981
Website| jeffersonscholars.org

The Jefferson Scholarship is a merit scholarship that provides four years of fully funded study at the University of Virginia in the United States. The scholarship covers tuition and room and board, and also provides money for summer travel, independent research, and study abroad. Application to the scholarship is by invitation only. Around 30 "Scholars" are selected annually from some 6,000 schools who may each nominate one student. Scholars have included 24 Rhodes Scholars and Marshall Scholars, Olympians, Pulitzer Prize winners, and others.

## History

[edit]

Thomas Jefferson, benefactor of the University of Virginia

In 1981, the first Jefferson Scholarship was endowed and named for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and a benefactor of the University of Virginia.[1] The program has grown since with the support of benefactors and endowments. As of 2023, the endowment was $820.9 million and supported 139 scholars.[2] Out-of-state recipients receive about $347,000, as of 2024.[3]

### Selection criteria

[edit]

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation aims to identify, attract, and nurture "individuals of extraordinary intellectual range and depth who possess the highest concomitant qualities of: Leadership, Scholarship, and Citizenship".[4]

Scholars are nominated as the most accomplished student at their respective school, and then compete through a series of interview rounds from local to regional, national and the finals, which are held in Charlottesville, Virginia.[5][6] There are currently 70 nominating regions, with over 6,000 schools eligible to nominate a student, and a pool of students exceeding 800,000.[7] In 2020, over 2,100 high schools nominated students; 34 were selected, or less than 2% of the nominees.[3][8]

Designation  | Number of candidates  | Ratio  | Percent

|
|
|

Graduating seniors at designated schools  | 840,000 (approx.) eligible to apply  | 1 in 1  | 100%
Jefferson Scholar Candidate  | 2100 (approx.) | 1 in 400  | 0.25%
Jefferson Scholar  | 30  | 1 in 28000  | 0.00357%

## Enrichment programmes

[edit]

### Institute for Leadership & Citizenship

[edit]

The Leadership and Citizenship Institute is a two-week seminar for all Scholars, taking place at the end of their freshman year. It is held on the grounds of the University of Virginia, and consists of workshops, group discussions and personal exploration, and is designed to foster and develop the characteristics of leadership and citizenship in scholars.[9]

### Travel

[edit]

Scholars are encouraged to partake in foreign travel and study after their sophomore year, and invited to undertake a self-designed exploration into a topic of personal interest.[9] Many also take the opportunity to study at one of the university's partners for a semester.[9]

### Exploratory Fund

[edit]

The Exploratory Fund, as an initiative of the Foundation, provides seed funding for Scholars' projects and concepts. Developed to support the innovation of Scholars, the Foundation encourages Scholars to build projects that serve societal and cultural development. New commercial or philanthropic enterprises within or outside the university can also apply for funding consideration.[10]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Maurie McInnis, 24th president of Yale University
* Jia Tolentino, author and writer for The New Yorker
* Melissa Murray, legal commentator and professor at New York University School of Law
* Meghan O'Leary, Olympic rower
* Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
* Andrew Oldham, U.S. Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
* Jasmine H. Yoon, U.S. District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
* Peter D. Leary, former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia
* M. Lisa Manning, American physicist and professor of physics at Syracuse University
* W. Bradford Wilcox, American sociologist
* Payvand Ahdout, law professor at University of Virginia School of Law
* Emma Camp, journalist at Reason Magazine

## See also

[edit]

* Virginia portal
* United States portal

* Morehead-Cain Scholarship
* Robertson Scholars Program
* Boettcher Scholarship
* Levine Scholarship

## References

[edit]

1. ^ B. Drummond Ayres Jr (1976-04-14). "U. of Virginia Pays Tribute to 'Mr. Jefferson'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
2. ^ "2023 Jefferson Scholars Foundation Annual Report" (PDF). Jeff Scholars.
3. ^ a b "The Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships | Jefferson Scholars Foundation". jeffersonscholars.org. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
4. ^ "Jefferson Scholars Foundation Awards Full Scholarships to 38 Outstanding Students Across the Globe". UVA Today. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
5. ^ CHAMBERS, JESSE (2021-06-25). "MBHS senior wins prestigious scholarship to University of Virginia". villagelivingonline.com. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
6. ^ Hunter, Steve (2021-05-14). "Kentlake senior Baeza Lakew wins prestigious Jefferson Scholarship". Kent Reporter. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
7. ^ "The UVA Jefferson Scholarship: Nomination & Selection Process | AdmitSee". admitsee.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
8. ^ "The Foundation has announced the Jefferson Scholars Class of 2020 | Jefferson Scholars Foundation". jeffersonscholars.org. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
9. ^ a b c "Community & Enrichment | Jefferson Scholars Foundation". jeffersonscholars.org. Retrieved 2022-04-20.
10. ^ "Fellow alumnus launches new startup with the help of JSF's Exploratory Fund | Jefferson Scholars Foundation". jeffersonscholars.org. Retrieved 2022-04-20.

11."Fully Funded Scholarships in USA for African 2023". www.uskill.com. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

University of Virginia

Located in: Charlottesville, Virginia

Academics

| Schools|

* Architecture
* Public Policy
* Arts and Sciences
* Professional Studies
* Business
* Commerce
* Education
* Engineering
* Law
* Medicine
* Nursing
* College at Wise
* JAG School

|

Scholars|

* Echols Scholars
* Jefferson Scholars
* Rodman Scholars

Research|

* Association of American Universities
* Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
* Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities
* Japanese Text Initiative
* Universitas 21
* Mid-Atlantic Terascale Partnership
* Flexible Extensible Digital Object Repository Architecture
* Applied Research in Patacriticism
* Networked Infrastructure for Nineteenth-Century Electronic Scholarship
* Legion
* Mentat

Press|

* University of Virginia Press
* Virginia Law Review
* Virginia Journal of International Law
* Journal of Law & Politics

Other|

* Rare Book School
* Semester at Sea
* University of Virginia Demographics and Workforce Group
* Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership
* Miller Center of Public Affairs
* University of Virginia Center for Politics
* Sabato's Crystal Ball

Athletics

| Teams and music|

* Virginia Cavaliers
* Virginia Pep Band
* Cavalier Marching Band
* Wahoos
* The Good Old Song
* The Cavalier Song

|

Sports|

* Baseball
* Men's basketball
* Women's basketball
* Football
* 2022 shooting
* Men's lacrosse
* Women's lacrosse
* Men's soccer
* Women's soccer
* Swimming and diving
* Men's tennis
* Track and field

Rivalries|

* Virginia Tech (overall, football, and men's basketball)
* Johns Hopkins
* Maryland Terrapins
* lacrosse
* North Carolina Tar Heels

Facilities|

* Davenport Field at Disharoon Park
* John Paul Jones Arena
* Klöckner Stadium
* Lake Monticello
* Memorial Gym
* Scott Stadium
* Sheridan Snyder Tennis Center
* University Hall
* University Hall Turf Field

Grounds

* The Lawn
* The Range
* The Rotunda
* Thomas Jefferson statue
* McIntire Amphitheatre
* The Corner
* Fan Mountain Observatory
* Hereford College
* Jefferson Hall
* McCormick Observatory
* Memorial to Enslaved Laborers
* Rugby Road
* University of Virginia Cemetery

Student life

| Publications|

* The Cavalier Daily
* The Hedgehog Review
* Virginia Law Weekly
* Virginia Quarterly Review
* The Yellow Journal

|

Radio stations|

* WTJU
* WXTJ-LP

Greek life|

* University of Virginia Greek life

Debating societies|

* Jefferson Literary and Debating Society
* Washington Literary Society and Debating Union

Performing arts|

* The Academical Village People
* Hullabahoos
* Sil'hooettes
* The Virginia Belles
* Virginia Film Festival
* Virginia Gentlemen
* Virginia Glee Club

Residential colleges|

* Brown College at Monroe Hill
* Hereford College
* International Residential College
* First-year living areas
* Alderman Road
* McCormick Road

Secret societies|

* IMP Society
* Seven Society
* Z Society
* Other

People

* Alumni and faculty
* Thomas Jefferson (founder)
* Enslaved laborers
* University Presidents

Established: 1819 – Endowment: $7.53 billion – Students: 22,391

* Commons
* Category

1. "Fully Funded Scholarships in USA for African 2023". Uskill. February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.

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