Three incoming Virginia Tech students awarded 2016 Stamps Scholarships

Three incoming Virginia Tech students will receive Stamps Leadership Scholarships. The scholarship provides full tuition, fees, and room and board for up to four or five years depending on the student’s course of study, in addition to an enrichment fund to allow the scholars to take part in unique experiential learning opportunities for academic and professional development.

The Virginia Tech Stamps Scholars Class of 2020 includes:

• Casey Jung, of Adamstown, Maryland, who will major in engineering in the College of Engineering and be a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets;
• Grant McMillan, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who will major in general engineering in the College of Engineering; and
  
• Dana Mulligan, of Falls Church, Virginia, who will major in University Studies.

The Stamps Family Charitable Foundation partners with 36 schools around the country to provide scholarships to students with strong leadership potential, academic merit, and exceptional character. This year, 209 Stamps Scholars were selected from over 400,000 applications.

In 2014, the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation launched a partnership with Virginia Tech to provide scholarships to undergraduate students with a $1.25 million grant that was matched with a $1 million gift from Virginia Tech alumnus Dave Calhoun as well as $250,000 in Virginia Tech funding. Prior to 2014, the foundation had provided scholarship funding to students at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, 12 Virginia Tech undergraduate students are supported as Stamps Scholars, including the three new incoming scholars, representing a range of disciplines in five of the university’s six undergraduate colleges.

Stamps Scholars make significant contributions to their campuses. “Virginia Tech Stamps Scholars are engaged in research and student organizations across campus and beyond. They have presented at regional and national conferences and often seek interdisciplinary connections and opportunities to enrich the learning environment. Stamps Scholars enrich the Virginia Tech campus for all students,” said Christina McIntyre, senior associate director of University Honors. ”Many Stamps Scholars have sought international experiences to better understand the world and their place in it.”

Through the foundation, Stamps Scholars across the country participate in a national day of service, have access to a growing network of scholars and alumni, and have opportunities to attend biennial conventions where scholars network with each other and learn from recognized leaders.

Since the foundation began distributing scholarships nationwide 11 years ago, 30 of its scholars have won nationally prestigious awards, such as the Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, Goldwater, Marshall, Rhodes, Truman, and Schwarzman scholarships.

Prospective Virginia Tech students who would like to apply for this scholarship next year can find more information on the Virginia Tech Honors College website. The priority deadline will be Dec. 1, 2016, with in-person interviews scheduled in February 2017.