The District participates in the annual competitive college scholarship program administered by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD).  The District specific scholarship is known as the Adams-Boone Scholarship, but an individual that the District selects is also eligible for the statewide competitive scholarships that may be available.  It is the District’s policy that no individual will be awarded both the Adams-Boone Scholarship and one of the statewide competitive scholarships. 

The process for evaluating and interviewing candidates for the scholarship will need to be somewhat flexible, as it is dependent upon the VASWCD and the schedule of the local schools.  In addition to adherence to the scholarship guidelines set forth by the VASWCD Educational Foundation, the District will abide by the following: 

  • Exact dates will depend upon the current calendar year and directives from VASWCD, however, rough guidelines are as follows: 

    • Early Spring - Application and guidelines distributed to SWCD Offices

    • Early Spring - Confirm deadline with your local SWCD Office

    • April - District’s selected applicant with all supporting documentation must be received at the VASWCD Office

    • Late May - Scholarship award winners will be announced

  • Before selection of a scholarship recipient, the Personnel Committee will interview candidates in person 

  • No more than four candidates in any year shall be interviewed, representing the top four candidates from the pool of applicants 

  • Interviews should be set on a week day evening 

  • One evening will be set aside for interviewing all candidates 

  • Approximately 15 – 20 minutes shall be set aside for each interview 

  • Questions for the candidates shall vary from year to year, shall be set ahead of time (preferably in January at the start of the process), shall not be divulged to the candidates ahead of the interview, and shall be identical for all candidates 

  • The Chair of the Personnel Committee and no more than three others (no more than one a Director) shall comprise the interview panel 

  • The selection of a recipient made by the Personnel Committee will be based upon the application, transcripts, and interview of the candidates, with no particular weight given to any element 

  • Decision of the Personnel Committee shall be final and shall be presented to the District Board for approval