ECMC Awards $228,000 in College Scholarships to 38 Students in Virginia

RICHMOND, VA.—Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) is proud to recognize 38 high school graduates from the class of 2024 as ECMC Scholars. The students each earned a $6,000 scholarship and represent the following high schools:  Amherst Co. High School, Buckingham County High School, Eastside High School, Essex High School, Freedom High School, King and Queen Central High School, Manor High School, Ridgeview High School, and Westmoreland High School.

For the past two years, these students participated in a comprehensive mentoring program designed to help build academic and life skills. Unlike a traditional academic scholarship, students were selected to participate in the program based on their potential—not solely on their academic merit. Working in collaboration with school staff and the ECMC Scholars Program team, students spent their junior and senior years of high school actively preparing for postsecondary education.

“This is a remarkable achievement that reflects their hard work, dedication, and resilience.   I’m so proud of all that they have accomplished and look forward to seeing these young adults develop with ECMC’s support!” said Joshua Mann, ECMC Scholars Program director.

The scholarship funds can be used for enrollment in a degree or certificate program at an accredited college, university or career and technical education institution. In addition, each Class of 2024 scholarship recipient has been given the opportunity to receive personalized near-peer college coaching services provided by Beyond 12. This service provides academic, social and emotional support students need to persist in postsecondary education.

“The ECMC Scholars Program is designed to help students with financial need reach their educational goals.  Many students will be the first in their family to attend a postsecondary institution,” said Paula Craw, ECMC vice president of student success and outreach. “Now more than ever, it is important to provide students with a holistic approach to helping them get to and through postsecondary education.”

Since 2005, ECMC has awarded $9.32 million to 1,554 ECMC Scholars students in Virginia alone. Over the past 18 years, ECMC has awarded $21.2 million in scholarships to 3,539 students in Virginia, Oregon and Connecticut.

About ECMC
ECMC is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed. ECMC works to lower student loan default rates; sponsors college access and success initiatives, and financial literacy programs; and provides resources to support student loan borrowers to successfully repay their loans. To learn more about ECMC’s initiatives, visit www.ecmc.org/students.