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Scholarships

Educational Endowment Scholarships

The Educational Endowment Scholarship Program, offered by the Foundation of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, provides flexible funding to member organizations for staff professional development and technical training. Selected agencies receive a maximum allocation of $2,000, which can be used for one or multiple individuals across various training sessions. Eligible opportunities include VRPS educational events, agency membership renewals, CPSI or NRPA programs, Oglebay National Training Center programs, and Aquatic Facility Operator programs. Four awards are available annually, with one designated for each agency population tier: under 25,000; 25,000 to 50,000; 50,000 to 200,000; and over 200,000. Preference is given to applicants demonstrating a strong commitment to the profession through involvement with VRPS or the Foundation.

Applications must be submitted online by the Director or a designee of a VRPS member organization. For the current cycle, the submission deadline is June 22, 2026. All approved training requests are subject to review by the Education Endowment Committee, and successful recipients must complete all reimbursement requests and fund distributions by June 30, 2027.


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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.

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.