Scholarships  - 

Annual Conference Scholarship - application opening spring 2026

Professional Scholarships

Your Foundation donation helps support scholarships for Virginia parks and recreation professionals and students. The Foundation of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society is very proud of the Scholarship Program that has awarded over $200,000 in scholarships and assisted dozens of students and professionals with their education.

The Foundation of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society Scholarship Committee reviews all applications. Applicants are reviewed in light of the quality of the responses provided in the application and the following criteria:

  • Service to VRPS: involvement in service areas, resource groups, committee positions held, and volunteer experiences. Student applicants may describe their involvement with parks and recreation agencies including employment and volunteer experience.

  • Demonstrated financial need.

    Scholarship preference will be given to those individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the profession through involvement in VRPS and the Foundation of VRPS.

Not a VRPS member? JOIN US!

 

 Jesse A. Reynolds Memorial Scholarship - check back Summer of 2026 for application information!

Jesse A. Reynolds was a parks and recreation director for the City of Richmond.  He was instrumental in establishing professional parks and recreation "registration", which was the predecessor to Virginia's CPRP program.  Upon his passing, Jesse's family, including son Ron Reynolds, a former director in Campbell County and a former VRPS Foundation Board member, established this scholarship in his name.  Designed to assist professionals currently employed in leisure services (preferably public recreation), this scholarship is awarded to assist in graduate level education, either on a part-time or full-time basis

 
 James K. Cole Memorial Scholarship - application opening summer of 2027

 James K. Cole, a Parks and Recreation professional from the City of Virginia Beach, was dedicated to the profession. This scholarship is designed to assist junior, senior and graduate students majoring in the Leisure Service or Parks and Recreation field, who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance.