The Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship Program was inaugurated in 2006 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Virginia Community College System. The scholarships provide access to higher education for bright, hard-working young men and women who would otherwise not have a chance to attend college. These merit-based scholarships are designed to be enduring legacies that will make the community college experience available to generations of deserving students.
Each class of scholars will mentor the next class of recipients. Thus, the program creates a steady stream of scholars and mentors – a legacy of community college graduates. The program offers a wonderful opportunity to engage in the spirit of learning and giving. The Commonwealth Legacy Program awards scholarships to first-time college students who plan to attend one of Virginia's 23 community colleges. Students who wish to receive the scholarships will not only have excelled academically but will also have shown interest in challenging themselves and helping others progress.
The scholarship also provides students with the opportunity to attend a statewide recognition luncheon in the fall and the opportunity to attend the statewide Student Leadership Program.
Former Governor Gerald L. Baliles continues to work to expand affordable access to higher education – understanding the transformative power of a college degree. As Governor, he directed millions of dollars to Virginia’s community colleges, improving the quality of our faculty and resulting in our first ever tuition decreases. He remains committed to the community college mission, serving today as an Honorary Board Member for the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.
In conjunction with the 2007 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy a small group of friends came together to create an endowment honoring Governor Baliles commitment to and on-going support of community colleges by endowing a scholarship in his name and surprising him with the announcement during the 2007 Awards Program. This endowment provides two scholarships beginning fall 2008.