SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Abingdon Ruritan Club provides financial assistance to high school graduating seniors who are residents of Gloucester County. Students planning to attend a four-year college or university may apply for our $6,000 Academic scholarship. Students planning to seek workforce training through a community college, trade or vocational school may apply for our $3,000 Workforce Training Scholarship. To apply for one of these scholarships, review the following requirements below for each and complete and submit the appropriate application within the stated deadline.
ABINGDON RURITAN CLUB ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP
ABINGDON RURITAN CLUB
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
$1,500 per year for four years
Abingdon Ruritan Club presents annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors who are Gloucester County residents. A four-year renewal scholarship of $6,000 ($1,500 per year) is awarded each year to students who will be attending a college or university. Two scholarships are awarded each year.
Applicant must enroll as a full-time student. To receive the subsequent disbursements of $1,500 per year, the student must continue to be a full-time student and be in good academic standing as defined in the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTs
Must be a Gloucester County resident and a 2026 high school graduating senior.
Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Must have demonstrated community service by participating in extracurricular activities:
In school
In the community
Application –
Complete and submit the application and submit it by the deadline. Use a fillable version form if possible. Typewritten is preferred to being handwritten.
Include an essay that addresses community service, fellowship, goodwill and good citizenship. It should demonstrate good sentence structure with correct grammar and spelling and should be at least 250 words. Use a word processing program and double space for legibility.
Include an official copy of your high school transcript or home school record.
Include three letters of recommendation. Please….no form letters! Typewritten preferred.
A recommendation may be obtained from:
School official: (only one) counselor, principal, teacher, coach.
Present or former employer
Church
Community Organizations with which you were involved.
The person providing a recommendation MUST state their name and relationship to the applicant.
FILING DEADLINE: Completed applications from Gloucester High School students must be returned to the School Counseling Office no later than 3 pm, Friday March 26, 2027. All others must be mailed to Abingdon Ruritan Club, P.O. Box 22, Bena, VA 23018 and must be postmarked no later than March 26, 2027.
Four-Year-Fillable application: https://www.abingdonruritanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/four-year-application-Fillable1.pdf
ABINGDON RURITAN CLUB WORKFORCE TRAINING
WORKFORCE TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
$1,500 per year for two years
OVERVIEW
Abingdon Ruritan Club presents an annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a Gloucester County resident. A two-year renewal scholarship of $3,000 ($1,500 per year) is awarded each year.
WHO IS IT FOR
The award is to provide financial assistance for students who will be attending a two-year school such as vocational or trade school or to a Community College. It is for undergoing training in fields such as medical assistants/technicians, culinary, cosmetology, automotive, plumbing, electrical, welding, HVAC, etc. Community College students enrolled in an associate degree program or to complete courses in anticipation of transferring to a four-year college or university are eligible to apply for this award.
Applicant must enroll as a full-time student. To receive the second-year disbursement of $1,500, the student must continue to enroll as a full-time student and be in good academic standing as defined in the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Complete the application and submit it by the deadline. Use a fillable version if possible. Typewritten is preferred to being handwritten.
Must be a graduating high school senior who is a Gloucester County resident.
Must have a 2.2 Grade point average or higher.
Community service preferred by not required.
Include an official copy of your high school transcript or home school record.
Include three letters of recommendation. Please….no form letters! Typewritten preferred.
A recommendation may be obtained from:
School official: (only one) counselor, principal, teacher, coach.
Present or former employer
Church
Community Organizations with which you were involved.
The person providing a recommendation MUSTstate their name and relationship to the applicant.
FILING DEADLINE: Completed applications from Gloucester High School students must be returned to the School Counseling Office no later than 3 pm, Friday, March 26, 2027. All others must be mailed to Abingdon Ruritan Club, P.O. Box 22, Bena, VA 23018 and must be postmarked no later than March 26, 2027, 2027.
Two-Year-Fillable Application: https://www.abingdonruritanclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Two-Year-Application-Fillable-3.pdf
WORKFORCE TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
$1,500 per year for two years
Name of Applicant: _____________________________________________________________________
Permanent Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Telephone Numbers: Home: ____________________________ Cell: ____________________________
Email Address: ________________________________________________________________________
Anticipated Field of Study: _______________________________________________________________ (Examples – Nursing, Medical Technology, Automotive, Cosmetology, Culinary, etc. Refer to Criteria more examples.
School you plan to attend: __________________________________ Already Accepted: Yes, ___No ___
List Any Work Experience (part-time & summer jobs held since entering high school)
Employer Duties Dates of Employment Hrs./Wk.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ruritans embody the model of fellowship, goodwill, and community service. Have you provided or participated in any community service project? Yes: ____________ No _______________
If yes, please provide a few words to explain your community service contribution. Please write clearly and legibly.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Attach additional page if more space is needed along with your letters of recommendation.
What other pertinent information would enhance your application?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(If more space is needed, attach additional page along with your letters of recommendation.)
Completed applications from Gloucester High School students must be returned to the School Counseling Office no later than 3 pm, Friday March 26, 2027. All others must be mailed to Abingdon Ruritan Club, P.O. Box 22, Bena, VA 23018 and must be postmarked no later than March 26, 2027.
ARC Celebrates the Club’s 2026-2027 Scholarship Winners
Abingdon Ruritan Club is proud to announce the Gloucester High School recipients of Scholarships for the 2026-2027 Academic year. Grayson Shield received an Academic Scholarship for $6,000 with $1,500 each year for four years. He will be attending the University of Richmond. Kayla Pasipanki received a Workforce Scholarship for $3,000 with $1,500 each year for two years. She will be attending Rappahannock Community College. Rylie Jeffrey received an Academic Scholarship for $6,000 with $1,500 each year for four years. She will be attending the University of Mary Washington. The Club recognized these recipients at the July Membership Meeting where they and their parents were treated to dinner. Shown in the photo from left to right are Club President Antonio Donald, Kayla, her parents Bob and Julie Pasipanki, Grayson and his Dad David Shield, and Club President David Bowles. Not shown is Rylie Jeffrey. Photo by Danny Privott.
Grayson Shield an Academic Scholarship for $6,000 with $1,500 each year for four years. He will be attending the University of Richmond.
Rylie Jeffrey received an Academic Scholarship for $6,000 with $1,500 each year for four years. She will be attending the University of Mary Washington.
Kayla Pasipanki received a Workforce Scholarship for $3,000 with $1,500 each year for two years. She will be attending Rappahannock Community College.