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Watford Inclusion Scholarship

$1k to 4 students ($4k total)

Endowed in 2022 with a $10k initial gift to the College of Engineering, the "Bevlee A. Watford `81, `83, `86 Endowed Scholarship" is named after Dean Bevlee A. Watford. Dean Watford graduated from Virginia Tech in 1981 with a degree in Mining Engineering. She went on to earn both an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at Virginia Tech. Dean Watford served as the first Director of Minority Engineering Programs and later founded the Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED). As the director of CEED, she worked to increase enrollment and retention in the College of Engineering. After just five years at Virginia Tech, she became the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and then the Associate Dean of Equity and Engagement. Beyond Virginia Tech, Dean Watford made history as the first Black woman to serve as president of the American Society of Engineering Education and chair of the Diversity Task Force. She is renowned as a pioneer in engineering education, advocating for the inclusion of all students within the engineering field.

The Watford Inclusion Scholarship is awarded annually to one incoming VT Engineering student in the amount of $1,000. This scholarship is renewable each year for up to three additional years, for a maximum total of $4,000 over four years. We aim to award a passionate student who demonstrates how they are working to expand diversity and inclusion in the field of engineering.

Criteria for Eligibility

The following are the requirements of the student applying for the Watford Inclusion Scholarship:

  1. The applicant must be an incoming freshman and remain in the College of Engineering through their senior year.
  2. The applicant must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 through senior year.
  3. The applicant can only apply for this scholarship once during their academic career.
  4. The scholarship is contingent on attendance at the SEC Awards Banquet in the spring of 2025.

Application and Selection Process

  1. The application consists of four parts: general information, essay, resume, and one letter of recommendation. 
  2. All applications must be submitted through the online application. The applicant will receive a confirmation email once the entire application is received and complete from the SEC Awards and Scholarships Chair. 

  3. One letter of recommendation, to be submitted through this link by the recommender. 

  4. Applications will be reviewed by the SEC Awards and Scholarships Committee. Finalists will be chosen and contacted to schedule an interview.  

This application may only be submitted once. The deadline for the Watford Inclusion Scholarship application for the 2024-2025 academic year is September 13th, 2024, at 11:59 PM. The deadline for letters of recommendation is September 13th, 2024 at 11:59 PM. If you have any questions concerning the application process, please contact the SEC Awards and Scholarships Chair (secawards@vt.edu).

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
RECOMMENDATION LETTER FORM