Henrico Retired School Personnel Association to resume scholarship program
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The Henrico Retired School Personnel Association once again will be offering its $2,000 scholarship this year, after low funding during the pandemic forced the group to suspend it last year.
The HRSPA chooses one student each year to receive the scholarship, which goes to a graduating senior in Henrico Public Schools who is planning to enter the education field as a teacher, school counselor, or other school professional.
The scholarship judges applicants on a combination of need and merit, according to HRSPA Scholarship Chair Patricia Rollison.
“It is need-based to some degree, but need is not a major part.” Rollison said. “Applicants need to write an essay on why they want to be in education. We want exemplary role models, good students.”
Rollison was a high school physics teacher in Henrico for 20 years before she retired. Her current goal, she said, is to revive the HRSPA after the pandemic.
“We want to get the camaraderie going,” she said.
The organization’s funding largely comes from donations, which were scarce during the pandemic. Now that life is getting back to normal, the organization is resuming activities including holding two meetings a year. The next meeting, Rollison said, will be in October.
The scholarship applications will open in January, and a winner will be announced in March, according to Rollison. The scholarship winner will be asked to attend the spring meeting of the HRSPA in order to meet its members.
The organization also will offer two $500 scholarships to school employees who are training to work in a different field or upgrading their credentials.
Students who want to apply for the scholarship can find materials in their school counseling office starting in January. Applicants also can email Rollison at prollo@aol.com.
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Anya Sczerzenie is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar. Sign up here for her free weekly education newsletter.
