The Excellence in Virginia Government Awards (EVGA) scholarships honor the previous year’s EVGA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit a commitment to community service and a deep interest in the practice of government and public affairs. Scholarship awards are made each year thanks to the generous sponsorships of individuals, and public and private organizations in the Commonwealth.

• Undergraduate or graduate student
• Merit-based award
• Recipient must attend the annual EVGA ceremony in April

This scholarship was established by the friends and colleagues of the late James Hooker, a former policeman and professor of Criminal Justice who taught for 30 years at VCU. Ever devoted to his students, he served as the faculty advisor to the VCU chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society. After his passing in 2005, this award has been given annually since 2007.

• Undergraduate or graduate student
• Need-based award
• Must have completed at least 6 credit hours of Criminal Justice or Public Safety coursework
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in those completed courses, good academic standing

Established by Thomas J. Kohlbeck (B.S. in Justice ’08, B.A. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness ’08) in memory of his grandfather, Victor J. Kohlbeck (United States Army - WWII, Vietnam and Korea), and his great uncle, Kenneth J. Kohlbeck (United States Marine Corps - Korea), who both sacrificed their lives in service to their country. Their commitment to service and excellence inspired a legacy of careers in the field of public service for his family. Thomas and his father, Gunnar (B.S. in Administration of Justice and Public Safety ’74), continued this commitment in the fields of homeland security and criminal justice. 

This scholarship will support an undergraduate student in criminal justice and/or homeland security and emergency preparedness with ambitions to pursue a career related to either academic program. Undergraduate student in Criminal Justice and/or Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness programs. 

• Full-time student (preference)
• Required 500-word essay to address the pursuit of a career in either discipline or both disciplines and a commitment to service and excellence in the field
• Students with demonstrated service in the field through volunteer efforts and/or an internship experience (preference to unpaid internship)

Established with a pledged gift from Benjamin D. Porter (B.S. in Urban Studies ’76), this scholarship will support the Urban and Regional Studies/Planning department. The scholarship honors the work and legacy of Dr. Peter Schulz, who dedicated his academic career to VCU and the department.

• Full-time junior, senior, or first-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning student with grade point average of 3.25 or above
• Preference given to a student concentrating in one of three areas: 1) transportation planning, 2) transportation and land use integration, or 3) spatial analysis.

Established by the Hon. Ronald L. Tillett (B.S. in Urban and Regional Studies ’79), a former Virginia Secretary of Finance from 1996 to 2001, who later became director of Morgan Keegan and Co. and is still a leader in public finance matters.

• Undergraduate student in any Wilder School degree program
• Cumulative and major GPA of 3.0, good academic standing
• Need an additional (second) letter of reference from an individual of choice
• 500-word essay which articulates personal career and/or graduate study aspirations in public service

This merit-based scholarship grew out of proceeds from two events honoring L. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected African-American governor, who served from 1990 to 1994. Preference is given to students in their first years of a degree program.

• Undergraduate or graduate student
• Must be a full-time student in Fall semester at the time of awarding in any of the Wilder School’s degree programs
• Merit-based award
• Is renewable until graduation as long as the recipient continues as a full-time student in good academic standing.

Established by Mr. Eric W. Witzig (M.S. in Criminal Justice '95) to support an undergraduate student in criminal justice. Mr. Witzig was in law enforcement for 43 years. He was a homicide detective for the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department until 1989 and then went on to serve as a crime analyst and supervisor for the FBI until he retired in 2012. He passed away in February 2020.

• Undergraduate student in criminal justice
• First generation student (preference)
• Need-based award (preference)

The Lindsey and Larry Bowman (B.S. in Administration of Justice & Public Safety ‘73; M.S. in Administration of Justice & Public Safety ‘82) Scholarship in Criminal Justice will provide financial assistance to an undergraduate student in criminal justice in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. The student will have

at least 54 credit hours completed and a demonstrated interest in criminal justice. Preference will be given to students who are pursuing a career in law enforcement as well as to students who identify as first-generation and/or have demonstrated financial need.

• Undergraduate student in Criminal Justice
• A minimum of 54 hours completed at the time of the award
• First-generation (preference)
• Need-based award (preference)
• Pursuing a career in law enforcement (preference)

This scholarship was founded in 2018 by Dr. Accordino’s family to honor his decades of service as faculty member, scholar, and dean, as well as his commitment to improving the quality of life in American communities. The award is made to a graduate student, including post-baccalaureate certificate students with a demonstrated interest in and commitment to improving the quality of life in American communities.

• Graduate student, including post-baccalaureate certificate students if no full-time graduate student applicants apply, part-time graduate students with a minimum of 6 credit hours and the aforementioned criteria will be considered
• Preferably full-time non-provisional admitted student
• 500-word essay must demonstrate commitment to improving the quality of life in American communities
• Need-based award

This scholarship was established in 2016 through gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Becker in memory of their daughter and Wilder School alumna, Karen Lynn Becker (MURP ’94). The scholarship is awarded to students with demonstrated need in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program.

• Current student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program
• Demonstrated financial need

This scholarship was established in 2018 by Thomas C. Burke, Jr. (B.S. in Elementary Education ‘79, MPA ’95) and Cathleen C. Burke to support a graduate student in Public Administration. Mr. Burke is a U.S. Army veteran and has served VCU in leadership development roles for 40 years. Mrs. Burke has led VCU human resources for 10 years. Both are dedicated to the commitment of VCU and public administration.

• Graduate student in public administration with a preference to students within the post-baccalaureate certificate program in nonprofit management
• Preference to part-time students
• Merit-based
• 3.0 minimum GPA

Established by the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation to commemorate Mr. Cribbs’s first ten years of service to the organization, Mr. Cribbs is the former associate vice president for planning and budget at VCU. He founded Richmond Memorial Health Foundation in 1996, which strives to create a healthier Richmond through grant making, strategic initiatives, and community program investments addressing the needs of vulnerable populations in the region.

• Pursuing a career in philanthropy
• Committed to serving the nonprofit community in Richmond and Central Virginia
• Can be renewed

The Excellence in Virginia Government Awards (EVGA) scholarships honor the previous year’s EVGA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit a commitment to community service and a deep interest in the practice of government and public affairs. Scholarship awards are made each year thanks to the generous sponsorships of individuals, and public and private organizations in the Commonwealth.

• Undergraduate or graduate Student
• Merit-based award
• Recipient should attend the annual EVGA ceremony in the spring

Established by Eva S. Hardy in 2007, The Eva S. Hardy Scholarship in Public Administration shall be awarded to meritorious graduate students in the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs with demonstrated financial need. The scholarship may be renewed provided the recipient stays in good academic standing. Mrs. Hardy served as Virginia’s secretary of health and human resources in the Baliles administration (1986-1990) before Dominion Resources. Recognized by multiple organizations for her community service, she currently serves as a consultant for Dominion Energy.

• Master of Public Administration student
• Need and merit-based award (preference)
• Renewable if student remains in good academic standing

Established in 2020 by Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D., the founding director of the VCU Center for Public Policy and Wilder School. Dr. Holsworth also served as Dean of the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences, the largest unit at the university, and was on the VCU Board of Visitors for two terms. 

• Preference will be given to full-time graduate students with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA who are pursuing enrichment opportunities during the summer session. 
• Graduate student pursuing program-related items including coursework, a faculty-led or a faculty-sponsored student academic research project, professional development opportunities or an internship.

This scholarship was established by the friends and colleagues of the late James Hooker, a former policeman and professor of Criminal Justice who taught for 30 years at VCU. Ever devoted to his students, he served as the faculty advisor to the VCU chapter of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society. After his passing in 2005, this award has been given annually since 2007.

• Undergraduate or graduate student
• Need-based award
• Merit-based award
• Must have completed at least 6 credit hours of Criminal Justice or Public Safety coursework
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in those completed courses, good academic standing

Established in 2008 with a gift by the family and friends of John Marlles, this merit-based award is given to a MURP student. John Marlles (MURP ‘83) was serving as director of planning for Henrico County at the time of his passing in 2005.

• Student in Master of Urban and Regional Planning program
• Merit-based award
• Renewable

Established in 2001 in memory of the school’s first director of public administration, this scholarship honors the legacy of Dr. Leigh E. Grosenick by supporting students. He founded the public administration program in 1975 and passed away in 1999.

• Master of Public Administration or Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration student
• Merit-based

Established by Elizabeth Roderick (MPA ’18) to support a graduate student in public administration with career aspirations or intentions to serve or support the nonprofit field. Ms. Roderick is an experienced public, academic and state agency librarian and library consultant, and student of nonprofit management studies.

• Current Master of Public Administration or post-baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management student
• 500-word essay describing or demonstrating career intentions to serve or support the nonprofit field
• Need a letter of reference from a Wilder School faculty member or community-based nonprofit organization or agency
• Merit-based award
• Need-based award (preference)
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Established with a pledged gift from Benjamin D. Porter (B.S. in Urban Studies ’76), this scholarship will support the Urban and Regional Studies/Planning department. The scholarship honors the work and legacy of Dr. Peter Schulz, who dedicated his academic career to VCU and the department.

• Full-time junior, senior, or first-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning student with grade point average of
• 3.25 or above
• Preference given to students concentrating in one of three areas: 1) transportation planning, 2) transportation and land use integration, or 3) spatial analysis.

Named for former VCU President, first Director of the Division of State Planning, and Hopewell City Manager T. Edward Temple, who passed in 1977. This scholarship was endowed in 1989 by the Virginia Citizen Planning Association (VCPA). Former Virginia Governor Mills Godwin chaired the first efforts at creating this award.

• Second-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning program student
• Must have completed 24 credit hours including all required first-year courses
• Best academic record in Urban and Regional Planning among eligible applicants

Created in 1984 by the International City Management Association (later renamed the Virginia Local Government Management Association) to award academic achievement and career promise. This scholarship is awarded each year in memory of T. Edward Temple. The president of the VLGMA is apprised of the status and recipients of the award each year.

• Master of Public Administration student
• Merit- and need-based award
• A Virginia resident or committed to working in Virginia local government

This honors the late state Senator and School of Pharmacy alumnus, Edward E. Willey. The award is made to graduate students who demonstrate strong academic achievement and potential, centrality of the proposed field of study, and specialization in the public affairs area as demonstrated through voluntary activity in relevant civic, community, or campus organizations. Although not required, residents of Virginia who seem likely to pursue public careers in the state are given preference.

• Master of Public Administration, CJ, or MURP students
• Students with a demonstrated interest in public careers in Virginia preferred
• Must be enrolled full-time in Fall semester at the time of awarding
• civic, campus, or community organizations preferred
• Determined to be outstanding in character, as judged by faculty and classmates; leadership ability, as demonstrated by participation in and leadership of student organizations; and academic performance, as demonstrated by the attainment of a minimum 3.75 GPA.
• Letter of recommendation and CV/resume are required
• Three graduate student awards are available on a rotating basis. In even years, awards are available to graduate students in public policy, recreation, and rehabilitation counseling. In odd years, awards are available to Wilder School graduate students in MPA, CJ, or MURP programs.

This merit-based scholarship grew out of proceeds from two events honoring L. Douglas Wilder, the nation’s first elected African-American governor, who served from 1990 to 1994. Preference is given to students in their first years of a degree program.

• Undergraduate or graduate student
• Must be a full-time student in Fall semester at the time of awarding in any of the Wilder School’s degree programs
• Merit-based award
• Is renewable until graduation as long as the recipient continues as a full-time student in good academic standing.

Established by Tom and Andi Jacobson to support a MURP student with an interest in comprehensive land use or environmental planning and aspirations to consider a role within local government. Tom, a local government planner for over 40 years including a major planning role in Chesterfield County as planning director and revitalization director, has also served at VCU as an adjunct faculty member in URSP, a researcher within the Center for Urban

and Regional Analysis, and lead instructor of planning commissioners across Virginia.

• MURP student
• Demonstrated interest in comprehensive land use or environmental planning highlighted in the required 500-word essay
• Preference for students with a current role or pursuing a career within local government
• Merit-based award (preference)
• Need-based award (preference)
• Preference will be given to students with a minimum of a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) and/or financial need.