Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Charleston, SC
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Scholarship Program
All funds received from donations, as well as the proceeds from any events and fundraising activities, go towards building our Scholarship Fund. Each Spring, we reward an academic scholarship to a student from a local high school who is about to attend Virginia Tech.
How to Apply:
If you are about to attend Virginia Tech and would like to apply for the scholarship, please complete your application online here:
https://www.alumni.vt.edu/chapters/student_scholarships/charleston.html
If you have questions, please email the Chapter President, Tiffany Ritchie, by using the Contact Form.
Scholarship General Information
Previous Recipients:
Thomas Henry
Tom graduated from Academic Magnet High School in 2021, where he was the president of the Cyber Security Club and won second place in the 2021 Palmetto Cyber Defense Competition. He has been accepted in to the Honors College at Virginia Tech and he intends to major in computer engineering.
Tom will be attending Virginia Tech, beginning in the Fall of 2021. He is excited to attend Virginia Tech because of the prestige of the engineering department, and it is "the only University in the United State where I can get the best education possible, while living in a beautiful town and being a part of one of the closest college communities in the world." Congratulations to Tom for being awarded our 2021 Scholarship!
Jackson Coppola
Jackson graduated from Academic Magnet High School in 2020 and is an Eagle Scout and a Level 10 Junior Olympic Men's Gymnast. After obtaining his Eagle Scout he was in Order of the Arrow, the national honor society of the Boy Scouts. He qualified for Nationals in Men's Level 10 Junior Olympic program, one of only two level 10 gymnasts to qualify in South Carolina. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, an Advanced Placement Scholar, and a Spanish National Honor Society Member.
Jackson is attending Virginia Tech's engineering program. He particularly appreciates, "the community spirit and Ut Prosim" stating that, "the act of giving back to those around you and supporting one's community is very important to me, and Virginia Tech highlights that perfectly."
Riley Hill
Riley graduated from School of the Arts in 2019. He is an Eagle Scout and an active volunteer at Water Mission International. He received the SOA Diploma with Service Distinction for his Community Service work. He's been accepted into Virginia Tech's Honor's College.
Riley taught himself to throw pottery and do woodworking. He's hoping to apply some of the skills he's learned from this -- including being resourceful and persistent -- to his studies in Industrial Design.
Riley chose VT because it has one of the most impressive Industrial Design programs that he's ever seen after visiting many of the top programs around the country. This includes the plentiful resources available to be able to do hands-on work. VT's Industrial Design program even provides access to a full ceramics studio, which appeals to Riley's artistic interest. Congratulations Riley, on all of your accomplishments, we are proud to awarded you as our 2019 Scholarship Recipient!
Cosette Geesey
Cosette graduated from Wando High School in 2018. She graduated in the top 7% of her class, and was a first chair violinist at Wando. She was attracted to Virginia Tech's motto of Ut Prosim, this was a key factor in her decision to choose Virginia Tech above other school she was considering. She also credited the close-knit nature of Virginia Tech students.
Cosette is studying Engineering at Virginia Tech, beginning in the Fall of 2018. Cosette is a stand-out individual, who holds herself with grace, poise, and a warm welcoming nature. We are thrilled to welcome Cosette into our Virginia Tech family and award her with our 2018 Scholarship.
Shane Malino
Shane graduated from Wando High School in 2017. Shane was on the Air Force Junior ROTC Raider Team for his entire high school career, with many accomplishments as a leader of various squadrons during this time. He was also part of Wando's Advanced Robotics Team. On top of all of that, Shane is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do!
Shane's commitment to serve America in the armed forces, his dedication to academics, and his belief in learning from others - truly valuing a diversity in viewpoints - made him a perfect fit at Virginia Tech.
He began his academic career at Virginia Tech in Fall of 2017 as a member of the ROTC program. We are proud to report that he is doing great, and accomplishing the many challenges of both the ROTC program and collegiate curriculum with excellence!
Cooper Pitts
Cooper graduated from Academic Magnet High School in 2016. He had many accomplishments and awards on the Swim Team, while maintaining a very impressive GPA. He was on the Spanish National Honors Society, and volunteered to help children who spoke Spanish as their primary language at a local elementary school.
Cooper chose to attend Virginia Tech because of the combination of academics, location, spirit, and sense of community. We are so glad that he's sensed the VT pride here in the lowcountry stating, "I know I am now part of an amazing community of people who love their school and are proud to show it."
Colton Frankel
Colton graduated from Academic Magnet in 2015. His accomplishments at Academic Magnet were great, especially on the soccer field. He played varsity soccer all 4 years, and was captain for 2 years. He was also named All-State multiple times.
Colton joined Virginia Tech's Class of 2019 to study physics on a cosmological scale. He stated, "so when considering where to begin the multiple year process of becoming specialized in this particular field, Virginia Tech easily topped any institution for gaining an undergraduate degree. This is because VTech is so well known and prestigious for its advancements in the sciences, especially on the eastern half of the United States."
James "Alec" Barr
"I graduated from Wando high school with the class of 2014. I am currently a freshman at Virginia Tech majoring in construction (civil) engineering and management. After graduation I hope to work with a nonprofit organization building hospitals internationally in much needed places.
Seeing as I chose to go out of state I knew very few people when I first arrived at tech but was immediately absorbed into the community; every school will claim that their student body is a tightknit community but it holds true here at tech. Tech also grants the ability to do just about anything you can think of; many of my friends have joined abstract clubs that I had never heard of before and many others are currently completing research, actively contributing to the modern field of science. I personally have chosen to join a fraternal organization named pi lambda phi that is committed to both service and brotherhood, where I am learning many valuable lessons and growing as an individual. The one semester I have spent at tech so far has been more than enough to ensure that this is the right school for me."