Scholarships: Restructured for Impact

By Nicole Freeman Ramos, Corps scholarship manager

Starting out in my position in February 2023, I was not sure what to expect with the financial need of the cadets. Nine months into my position, I can honestly say that the impact that our scholarship program has made on some of our cadets is overwhelming.

It really hit home this semester when I met with a cadet who had no way to pay his upcoming tuition due to a devasting change in his family situation. He also shared that he did not have money for food. It was apparent that Corps donors were his only hope to stay at Virginia Tech. His story was heartbreaking and thankfully, through Corps scholarships, we were able to help him stay at Virginia Tech and address his food insecurities.

The impact on the family was real. His mother reached out to vow that when she was able, she planned to donate to the Corps to help another child like our current donors helped hers. Without the support of our donors and our recently restructured scholarships, none of this would have been possible. The restructuring of Corps scholarships began this academic year. These changes have allowed the Corps to better align with Virginia Tech Advantage, a commitment by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors to offer a broad educational experience to Virginia students with financial need. The previous scholarship method was based on a tiered system that placed use limitations on the awarding abilities due to the limited scholarship funding that the Corps once faced. Compounding the Corps advancement team’s successful investment strategies, and the ever-increasing support from our dedicated alumni, our scholarship funding has consistently increased over the last few years. 

The Emerging Leader Scholarship (ELS) was created years ago to offer financial assistance to at least 200 cadets each year. While the scholarship name remains the same, the new goal is to offer a minimum of $1,000 each year to all cadets in good standing who have a Free Applicaton for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the university. The amount of money awarded in each scholarship factors in the overall merit and unmet need of each student, based on the FASFA. This allows for a more flexible solution for those who may need additional assistance to attend Virginia Tech and the Corps. This new high impact method allows us to assist cadets from all walks of life.

We have also made a few changes to help cadets faced with emergency tuition and educational expenses. To address that need, we have created the Commandant’s Response Scholarship Fund to allow donors to contribute to a scholarship fund that addresses emergency issues. This annual fund can accept donations of any amount as one-time payments or a pledge over multiple years and allows the Corps to retain cadets who otherwise would have to leave the university due to unexpected financial constraints. Almost half of the Corps’ population is classified as having a financial need, meaning the amount that a student and their family can pay for their education is less than what it costs to attend each year. While an ELS scholarship would aid a cadet in that circumstance, the Commandant’s Response Fund assists those who have unexpected financial emergencies.

Along with the Commandant’s Response Scholarship Fund, the Corps has continued the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Scholarship Annual Fund to supplement ELS scholarships to allow for larger awards. This flexibility allows the Corps to give extra funding for those who have higher unmet need. Both annual scholarship funds are important to the success of the Corps’ scholarship program.

Cadets can receive scholarships from both the Corps and from their respective ROTC programs. ROTC scholarships provide a range of funding, which can include full tuition and fee coverage for in-state and out-of-state cadets, depending on the ROTC branch. Currently, the ELS program is unable to fully provide coverage for tuition and fees, or room and board, but with the recent updates to the program, it is a priority to help cadets attend and continue to stay at Virginia Tech and with the Corps as an undergraduate. Emerging Leader scholarships are especially important for those not receiving ROTC scholarships.

With the rising costs of college education, and the urgent situations that our cadets sometimes face, the Corps’ scholarship program will need to consistently grow to address the current financial climate. Virginia Tech, through Virginia Tech Advantage, is working to meet the needs of students who face financial barriers. The Corps will continue to do the same, with the support of our donors.