An endowed trust that provides college scholarships.

The forms below are fillable PDFs. Please download the form to your computer, open and complete it. Once complete, save the changes.

Application guidelines and form

RE-Application guidelines and form

Through the great generosity and charity of Miss Roberta Ridley, an endowed trust was established many years ago to provide financial support for continuing education for qualified members of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and for residents of Southampton County and the City of Franklin. The Ridley Foundation is managed by a Board of Trustees, members of which are appointed from churches in the Diocese. Board responsibilities include diligent oversight of the Ridley farm and timber operations through professional managers, careful investment and management of the funds contained in the Trust, and painstaking evaluation of applications for scholarship assistance and the subsequent awarding of funds for continuing education to qualified individuals.

The Board of Trustees meets twice yearly. The Annual Meeting in July is to address any business before the Board and to consider the recommendations of the Scholarship Committee regarding new and/or continuing applications for scholarship assistance for the next academic year. The secondary meeting in February is held to verify continued qualification of first-semester grant recipients and to consider new applicants for the second semester.

Students are identified in the following categories: Southampton County residents, Franklin, Virginia residents, children of Episcopal clergy, children of diocesan employees, and lay Episcopal residents of the Diocese. Students must be accepted at an accredited college or university and be pursuing a full-time degree program. Scholarships are available for rising freshmen and upperclass students. Although the guidelines focus on undergraduate education, there have been instances, when funds are available, where seminarians have received scholarships. Those who apply/re-apply in the spring will be considered for the entire school year. Students who apply/re-apply in the winter will be considered for only the spring semester. No application covers a period longer than one year. Over the years, many students have received Ridley scholarships throughout their college careers. Some families have more than one student receiving a scholarship.

The Ridley Foundation Board and the Diocese of Southern Virginia encourage applications from qualified students. Materials may be downloaded from this site.

Questions?

Questions about Ridley Scholarship applications should be directed to:
Charlie Pfeifer
757-636-1203
charlie@cgpfam.net