Bank of America grant funds will benefit Virginia Western students

The Virginia Western Community College Educational Foundation recently received $5,000 from Bank of America to support the foundation’s Community College Access Program.

The program provides tuition-free education to qualifying graduates from Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke counties, as well as Roanoke and Salem. The program launched in 2008 in Salem and has since grown to encompass the region.

The grant funds will create an “emergency fund” to help CCAP students with financial hardships remain in college, according to a news release from the college.

“Bank of America is committed to supporting the demands of work force development in the Roanoke Valley,” Vic Gilchrist, Bank of America senior vice president and Roanoke market president, said in a statement. “CCAP and Virginia Western are critical to the education and training of our future employees, as students are able to access an affordable college education and gain the skills they need to succeed.”

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Jefferson College of Health Sciences recently awarded the inaugural John Echternach Jr. Memorial Scholarships.

The first-time scholarships went to two Jefferson College students pursuing Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing. Morgan Colomb and Brandon McKee, who are also currently volunteers at the Boones Mill Fire Department, received the scholarships, according to a news release.

The scholarships were established in honor of Echternach, an assistant professor at the college and volunteer at the Boones Mill Fire Department. Echternach was killed in June 2012 while responding to an emergency call during the severe storms that swept through the area.

More than 40 individuals and organizations donated to this scholarship, intended for Jefferson students who have worked for two or more years as volunteer EMS providers or firefighters.

Both Colomb and McKee also worked with Echternach, according to the release.

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Roanoke student Katherine Quiroz is a recipient of the 2013 AMVETS National Scholarship Program, according to a news release.

Quiroz, who will receive $4,000, plans to attend Christopher Newport University this fall. She intends to pursue degrees in education and communications.

According to the release, AMVETS is the nation’s fourth-largest veterans service organization. The group has awarded more than $2 million in scholarship funds to veterans and graduating high school students who are sons and daughters of veterans.

“I applaud the hard work and dedication of this year’s scholarship recipients, and wish them great success throughout their academic careers,” Cleve Geer, AMVETS national commander, said in a statement. “AMVETS is proud to support these deserving young people and continue its tradition of service to veterans, their families, and their communities.”

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