SCHOLARSHIPS EARNED
THROUGH COMPETITIONS
For 2008 , the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Program will reward young people for their hard work and achievement in twenty-nine sanctioned State Fair competition areas.
Livestock Competitions
Beef
Dairy Cattle
Dairy Goats
Market Hogs
Market Poultry
Meat Goats
Sheep
4-H & FFA Competitions
Crops Judging
Horticulture Demonstration
Jr. Dairymen’s
Jr. Forester’s
Jr. Stockmen’s
Small Engine Troubleshooting
Student Gardens
Tractor Troubleshooting
SkillsUSA Competitions
Advanced Culinary Knife Skills
Automotive Technology
Auto Body Repair
Cake Decorating
Carpentry
Culinary Knife Skills
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
Masonry
Residential Wiring
Other Competitions
AgriScience
Aquaculture
Fine Arts
- Visual
- 3-Dimenisonal / Sculptural
High School Rodeo
The value of scholarships awarded for individual competitions are listed with the rules for each competitions. All earnings are held in a State Fair interest bearing account for each winner and may be combined with previously earned State Fair awards. After graduation and upon enrolling in any accredited post-secondary education program, earnings will be paid directly to the student’s account at that institution. Scholarships not used by the recipient’s 24th birthday will revert from that student’s account into the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Fund.
ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
Once a student wins at least one scholarship through their participation at the State Fair, he/she becomes eligible to apply for the Endowed Scholarships as long as he/she has participated in the latest Fair and is currently enrolled in high school (grades 9-12).
Deadlines and Awards:
The deadline to apply for Endowed Scholarships is April 1. The Endowed Scholarship winners will be recognized at the State Fair of Virginia each year.
Following is a list of Endowed Scholarships:
Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. Scholarship Information
Known by many as “the Father of the State Fair of Virginia,” Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. provided leadership, financial assistance and stability to the State Fair during an uncertain time in the 1940s. Endowed by his daughter Emmy Lou Thomson in 1994, The Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. Scholarships provide outstanding high schoolers with financial support for furthering their education.
Thomson Scholarship winners have high ethical standards and integrity while demonstrating academic achievement, community service and leadership. Thomson Scholarship Winners excel and exhibit leadership in the community as well as during the State Fair of Virginia competitions. The winning students will use these awards to continue their education at a college, university, vocational or trade school
The Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. Gold Scholarships are earned annually by high school juniors or seniors.
Awards amounts in 2008:
1st Place Gold $6,000
2nd Place Gold $4,000
3rd Place Gold $3,000
Honorable Mention $1,500
Honorable Mention $1,500
Honorable Mention $1,500
The Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. Silver Scholarships are earned annually by high school freshmen or sophomores.
Award amounts in 2008:
1st Place Silver $3,500
2nd Place Silver $2,000
3rd Place Silver $1,000
Applications
Gold Scholarship (High School Juniors & Seniors)
Silver Scholarship (High School Freshmen & Sophomores)
All high school State Fair scholarship winners are annually sent information in February regarding the current value of their account and reminded that they are eligible to apply for the Endowed Scholarships. Online applications are accepted as well as downloaded applications that are mailed to the State Fair office.
Other Endowed Scholarships
Applicants who do not win the Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. awards are eligible and automatically considered for the Otis L. Brown, Virginia Wineries and Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr. Endowed Scholarships. Applicants that apply for the Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. awards are automatically included in the selection process for other endowed scholarships:
Wyndham B. Blanton, Jr. Scholarship $1,000
Known as the “Father of the Modern State Fair,” Dr. Blanton was a Richmond physician who served on the State Fair Board for more than 40 years.
Otis L. Brown Scholarship $1,000
Mr. Brown, the State Fair’s first CEO, established the State Fair Scholarship Program.
Virginia Wineries Scholarship $1,000
Since 1991, the Virginia Wine Industry has supported the annual State Fair Wine Tasting and Competition and its beneficiary, the State Fair Scholarship Program.
UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
The State Fair of Virginia annually provides scholarships to three universities in the Commonwealth for their students.
Virginia Tech receives eight $1,000 Scholarships for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Virginia State University receives two $1,000 Scholarships for students in the College of Agriculture.
Virginia Commonwealth University receives one $1,000 scholarship for a student in the School of Art.
Scholarship Calendar
| Summer | Students in 4H and FFA plan, organize and begin work on their Fair projects Youth Fine Arts information on line in Youth Arts and Crafts Competition Guide |
| Mid-August | Registration deadline for Livestock Competitions |
| Early-September | Registration deadline for Youth Fine Arts |
| September/October | Competitions are held at the State Fair |
| February | Scholarship account information and Endowed Scholarship eligibility notification mailed to scholarship winners at the end of the fiscal year. |
| April 1 | Endowed Scholarship applications due |
| May | Endowed Scholarship winners selected |
| October | Recognition of Endowed Scholarship and University Scholarship Winners |
State Fair of Virginia Competition
State Fair of Virginia Fine Arts Scholarship
HOW TO ACCESS SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
Scholarships may be combined with previously earned State Fair awards. Earnings will be paid directly to the student’s account at the educational institution of his/her choice. After enrolling in school, to access scholarship funds, complete the Scholarship Payment Request Form (see link below) and submit to the school’s registrar’s office. The registrar’s office will then forward the request to the State Fair of Virginia for payment. Scholarships not used by the recipient’s 24th birthday will revert from that student’s name back into the State Fair of Virginia Scholarship Fund.
Scholarship Payment Request Form
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