The Rotary Club of Leesburg Perry Winston Scholarship is an annual scholarship awarded to seniors from Loudoun County High School, Tuscarora High School, or Heritage High School who have been accepted to an accredited college, university, or community college. The criteria for the scholarship are demonstrated community service, academic achievement, and financial need. All applicants are required to complete a 500-word essay and, if selected as a finalist, participate in a personal interview.
The story of the scholarship starts with Mr. Perry Winston, a Rotarian and prominent Leesburg banker. Original funding to the scholarship was contributed by Perry Winston and two anonymous Rotarians. Through the years, other generous Rotarians, such as Ellen Wall, past owner of the Laurel Brigade Inn, and Jewell Emswiller, contributed to growing our principal through a large bequest to the fund that has helped in providing many scholarships to future students. Members of the club, past and present, have also generously supported the scholarship mission.
Each of the scholarship winners spoke briefly about their choice of a college, what they plan to major in and introduced their parents, other family members and faculty advisors. As part of the program, each student is assigned a mentor who will be another guide and coach throughout their college experience. The three mentors this year are Rotarians Valerie Beaudoin, Ernie Carnevale and Ashley Ivey.
