Dominion announces $10M scholarship program for minority students

Dominion will award $500K among 60 recipients this year

Published January 6, 2021 by Sydney Lake

Richmond-based Dominion Energy Inc. announced Wednesday a six-year, $10 million initiative to provide scholarships to minority students who reside in the company’s service area, which includes Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina.

This year, Dominion will award $500,000 in scholarships among 60 recipients through its Educational Equity Scholarship Program.

“As we witness our country’s evolving conversation on racial equity and social justice, we want to do our part to help historically underserved students,” Dominion President and CEO Robert M. Blue said in a statement. “We know that education can serve as a springboard for social and economic mobility.”

Eligible applicants are those who self-identify as Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian of Alaska Native; Asian; or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander with higher education expenses. Students must also be high school seniors or graduates with plans to enroll full-time at a two- or four-year college, university or vocational technical school.

One-third of the scholarships awarded in 2021 will be $5,000 each for students enrolled in two year schools, while 40 scholarships of $10,000 each will be awarded to students enrolled in four-year schools.

“We have partnered with historically black colleges and universities for nearly 40 years, offering volunteer and financial support,” said Thomas F. Farrell II, Dominion Energy’s executive chairman. “This scholarship program is another way for us to support the students who will one day lead our nation.”

Students can apply to renew scholarships as they go through school if they meet GPA requirements and state residence. The program is administered by Scholarship America, a nonprofit organization specializing in scholarship management and tuition assistance programs.

In July 2020, Dominion announced that Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University were among 11 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to share $25 million in support from the company — part of a $35 million higher education initiative announced earlier that month.