Hopewell Retired Teachers Association’s Charles W. Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment Grant

Hopewell Retired Teachers Association’s Charles W. Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: John Randolph Foundation Inc
Amount: Up to US $1,000
Last Updated: January 02, 2026

Summary

The Hopewell Retired Teachers Association’s Charles W. Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment supports continuing education for Hopewell High School seniors pursuing careers in education. Established in 1990, this scholarship honors Charles W. Smith, a dedicated educator and community leader. It aims to assist students with financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Priority is given to those aspiring to become educators. The application process requires various documents, emphasizing the importance of academic and community engagement.

Overview

Purpose To promote continuing education at institutions of higher education for any course of study by awarding scholarships to a deserving Hopewell High School student who demonstrate financial need, academic achievement, and community involvement. Priority may be given to a student who is pursuing a career as an educator: (Teacher, Child-Care Profession, Teacher’s Aide, Early Childhood Development, etc.) Background The Hopewell Retired Teachers Association established the Charles W. Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment in 1990. Charles William Smith was born in Alexander City, AL, becoming a resident of Hopewell, VA in 1930 when he joined the Hopewell Public School System as a High School English teacher. He served as superintendent of Hopewell Schools from 1942 until his retirement in 1973. Mr. Smith served as president of the Virginia Association of School Administrators and chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Virginia Education Association. He also served for many years in a variety of volunteer positions in church and civic life. Following his retirement, Mr. Smith was president of the Historic Hopewell Foundation. Mr. Smith earned a bachelors degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and a masters degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Mr. Smith was universally regarded as a dedicated and effective leader in developing the Hopewell Public School System during his 43 years of service as a teacher and Superintendent of Schools. This scholarship will serve as a lasting memorial to his commitment to the education of Hopewell’s youth. Criteria Scoring (5 Points) Letters of Recommendation(10 Points) Financial Need(10 Points) Academics(5 Points)  Extracurricular Activities(10 Points) Statement & Essay(5) Points) Priority given to a student who is pursuring a career as an educator:(Teacher, child-Care Profession, Early Childhood Development, Teacher’s Aide, etc.) Procedure The scholarship will be paid directly to the school for current year tuition, fees, books purchased through the institution attended, and on-campus dormitory and meal plan expenses. The scholarship committee will review and evaluate all applications and announce awards each spring. The committee will also review and revise the scholarship policy and criteria as necessary. The application must be submitted online here. Required Documents All required documents must be uploaded with the application. Any mailed or hand-delivered documents will not be accepted. Academic Transcript(s) (High School or College whichever applies.)FAFSA Submission Summary (which includes the Student Aid Index (SAI): formally known as Expected Family Contribution (EFC). SAI is an eligibility index number used to determine federal student aid and is generated from the completed FAFSA Application.Two Letters of Recommendation (Current) Failure to submit the online application with all documents attached to the application by the deadline will disqualify an applicant from consideration for the Hopewell Retired Teachers Association’s Charles W. Smith Memorial Scholarship Endowment. The John Randolph Foundation Scholarship Committee reserves the right to interview applicants in the final stages of selection. The decision of the scholarship committee in all matters regarding scholarships is final. Canvassing a scholarship benefactor, any John Randolph Foundation trustee or employee shall result in immediate disqualification. Scholarship awards are subject to the availability of funds, meeting the criteria as outlined in the guidelines of the individual scholarship program and contingent upon acceptance and enrollment in an approved program. John Randolph Foundation respects the privacy of scholarship applicants. Any personal or financial information will be used for the purpose of assessing the scholarship application and will be made available solely to the Foundation’s staff and scholarship selection committee. We make every effort to maintain your confidentiality.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The scholarship program is available to seniors attending Hopewell High School or a senior attending Appomattox Regional Governor’s School or Maggie Walker Governor’s School who is a resident of Hopewell. Priority may be given to a student who is pursuing a career as an educator: (Teacher, Child-Care Profession, Early Childhood Development, Teacher’s Aide, etc.).Student interns working for John Randolph Foundation are eligible to apply;Scholarship Applicants MustBe attending or Express a need and desire for continued education: (Teacher, Child-Care profession, Teacher’s Aide, Early Childhood Development, etc.); and wish to pursue a career as an educator;Be a well-rounded individual with extracurricular activities;Demonstrate scholastic achievement;Demonstrate active participation in the community;Provide verification of financial need;Meet the remaining criteria as outlined in the application guidelines;Have a G.P.A of 2.5 or better;Submit a completed John Randolph Foundation Scholarship Application ONLINE to include the required documents which must be uploaded with the application.

Ineligibility

Foundation trusteesOther foundation employees and their immediate families (parents, spouses, brothers, sisters, and anyone claimed as a dependent for tax purposes) are not eligible to apply.