VALLEY SCHOLARS

Partners in hope
We are embarking on an investment in the future of the Shenandoah Valley. Together we
will forge a path for hopeful young learners to become the first in their families to reach
college and succeed there. But we cant do it alone.

WHAT IS VALLEY SCHOLARS?

COLLEGE-BOUND OUTREACH
EXPERIENCES AND MENTORSHIP


Pilot

program starting in fall 2014 from eight local

middle schools
Partnership among JMU, local middle and high
schools, and donors like you
35 academically motivated eighth graders each year
from economically disadvantaged circumstances
College-bound experiences and mentorship from
eighth grade through high school graduation
Scholarship of full tuition and fees to James
Madison University

Multiple

student meetings yearly

Regular on-campus JMU academic and mentorship
experiences
Field trips, service projects, career exploration,
financial literacy sessions
JMU summer enrichment sessions
Strong focus on academic rigor and planning
Job shadowing with local professionals
Mentoring in high school by JMU students

We want these kids to think about when they go to college,

not if. We hope the wider community will rally around the
students and help deserving children aspire to reach their
full potential.

People can know that there

are people out there who care
about them.
VALLEY SCHOLAR

SHAUN MOONEY, Director, Valley Scholars Program

FACULTY SUPPORT

THE MADISON EXPERIENCE

While at JMU, each Valley Scholar will build on your investment by participating fully in the distinctive Madison Experience that students from
all over the world have been benefitting from for generations. JMUs
hallmark opportunities for engaged learning, community engagement
and civic engagement will prepare them to become educated and
enlightened citizens ready to lead productive and meaningful lives.

ENGAGED
LEARNING

COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT

CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT

THE PROMISE OF EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY

A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

Through our Valley Scholars partnership and the rich diversity of the Shenandoah Valley, we will demonstrate that
educational equality regardless of financial ability and
background uplifts families and entire communities and
maintains our liberty.

After graduating from JMU, Valley Scholars alumni will pay

your investment forward. They will become role models,
engage in their communities, contribute knowledge, expertise
and leadership to the workforce, and add value to the health of
our overall economy.

The Valley Scholars Program,

organized by James Madison
University in Harrisonburg, targets
students who will be the first in
their immediate families to attend
college. Were really excited
for the students. I think its an
awesome opportunity for them.
ANDREA ZIMMON, DNorth Fork Middle guidance counselor

Participating Middle Schools

This is an investment in our students, an investment in our families and investment in our communities.
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Participating High Schools

J. Frank Hillyard in Rockingham County

Kate Collins in Waynesboro

Luray

North Fork in Shenandoah County

Page County

S. Gordon Stewart in Augusta County

Skyline in Harrisonburg

Broadway
Harrisonburg
Luray
Page

Fort Defiance
Robert E. Lee
Waynesboro
Stonewall Jackson

OUR VALLEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM AT WORK

Valley Scholars come to campus monthly throughout the
academic year to be exposed to a variety of career paths and
fields of study. Our first Valley Scholars cohort has participated in learning activities designed by each of JMUs
colleges. JMU students work alongside our scholars as they
experience a range of activities in fields like business, health

sciences, engineering, science, the arts and more. Throughout these experiences, our Valley Scholars receive knowledge
and guidance that will help them achieve goals they never
thought possible. With your investment, this valuable program of educational outreach can continue beyond our first
three cohorts of Valley Scholars.

MEDIA AND PRESS

That visit was the best. We pretended there was a zombie
apocalypse and interviewed people from the Centers for Disease
Control in a mock press conference.
VALLEY SCHOLARS

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

I experienced a new thing going to the Farmers Market. I liked

the handcrafted soap. It was cool learning about that and how
she makes a living.

VALLEY SCHOLAR
6

HEALTH STUDIES

SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

It changed my outlook on college. Ive always been a high

achiever, but now I know I want to go to college and be a doctor.
VALLEY SCHOLAR

U.S. ARMY ROTC

I like science and techThe Integrated Science and Technology activity was my

nology in general, but now

favorite. We got to create a monster. First, we drew a sketch

I know that I want to take

on the wall, and then we animated the monster on the

technology-related classes

computer. We also built prototypes of the cell phone tower.

and sign up for ROTC.

VALLEY SCHOLAR

VALLEY SCHOLAR

YOU
ARE THE

WHATS AT STAKE?

51.39

percent of the children in the school divisions

participating in Valley Scholars are eligible for free and
reduced school lunch. Thats 10 percent higher than the
Virginia average of 41.19 (Virginia Department of
Education, 2013).


Students

from disadvantaged economic

backgrounds are, in general, less likely to attend
college in part because of a lack of academic preparation (Gonzalez, 2012).

 t the height of the recession in 2009, unemployment

A
for high school graduates (9.7%) was double that for
college graduates (4.6%). Even in 2013, unemployment
for high school graduates (7.9%) is almost one-third
more than for college graduates (5.0%). (U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics)

HOPE

FOR OUR FUTURE VALLEY SCHOLARS


W hen

a student becomes the first in a family to graduate

from college, future generations are more likely to follow.

I saw the acceptance letter was


Individuals

who complete a bachelors degree will

earn, on average, $1 million more over a lifetime
than those who graduate from high school only
(NACAC, 2005).

 ree and reduced school lunch eligibility

F
significantly predicts students plans to work after high
school rather than attend college (Educational Policy
Improvement Center, 2012).


Attending a public four-year university represents 60

percent of a low-income familys annual income compared

to 16 percent for middle-income families and 5 percent for high-income families. (Gladieux, 2004).

in the mail and I screamed the

whole way from the driveway to
the house. I didnt want to open

The

portion of the nations population with higher education will diminish while the number of jobs requiring
higher education will increase. This mismatch alone
could have dire consequences for the social and economic
health of the nation (Gonzalez, 2012).

the letter and my mom said,

You have to open it. So I did,
and I started crying and called

Without YOU, many of our local youth will never get to college.

my dad to tell him. They were

happy tears.

VALLEY SCHOLAR

Through the Valley Scholars program, we seek to give not just the
gift of an education, but also the gift of hope for a bright future. I
cant wait to see how these students will grow and blossom as they
dream big about their futures.
Jonathan Alger, President, James Madison University
10

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VALLEY SCHOLARS

Office of MSC 4401

Development Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
(800) 296-6162

4-22-2015
For more information, please contact
Jeff Gilligan, Assistant Vice President of Development
P H OTO G R A P H Y BY H O L LY D O N O H U E ; DA N I E L L E E P I FA N I O, B re e z e

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