DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 20
January 25, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Request for Nominations of College-Bound Students
for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship |
The Department of Education is pleased to announce
the availability of the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship to provide financial
assistance to students who have achieved academically and show promise of
continued outstanding academic achievement.
Graduating seniors of public and private secondary
schools, and those who have the equivalent of a high school diploma, are
eligible for the Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. The applicants must have demonstrated and
show promise of continued outstanding academic achievement.
Under separate cover, materials describing the Byrd
Honors Scholarship Program are also being sent to the headmasters of accredited
nonpublic secondary schools. The
Virginia Department of Education is requesting that public and private schools
assist in identifying and securing applications from eligible students who wish
to be considered for college scholarships offered by the U. S. Department of
Education for the 2008-2009 academic year.
A prompt response from each school is important to
the program's success. All public school
applications should be mailed from the division's central office and postmarked
no later than April 11, 2008. Please note
the chart on page 2 of Attachment A, which indicates the maximum number of
applications each division may submit.
The total number of applications submitted by each
division cannot exceed the limit established on the basis of the total grade 12
fall membership for the public school division or the
private school. Only complete
applications will be accepted. Any part
or parts of the application submitted separately (including letters of
recommendation) will cause the application(s) to be rejected. Each school should keep a copy of the
application(s) sent from the school.
Byrd scholars must be selected in such a way that
all parts of the Commonwealth are fairly represented. We request that you emphasize activities that
ensure students from low-income and moderate-income families have access to the
information about the opportunity for full participation in the scholarship
program.
Scholarship applications must be postmarked by April
11, 2008. A statewide committee will
select the scholarship recipients and notify them prior to the end of the
current school year. If you have
questions regarding the program or wish to receive a copy of the application
materials, please contact Joseph Wharff, school counseling specialist, by
e-mail at Joseph.Wharff@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 786-9377. You
may also contact Yvonne Ahlgrim by e-mail at Yvonne.Ahlgrim@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 225-3342,
BKCJr/JAW/yba
Attachments
a. Instructions and Application for the 2008 Award Competition (.doc)
b. Certification of Eligibility for Federal Assistance in Certain Programs (.doc)