The Virginia T. Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Virginia T. Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for incoming Spelman College students from New York. Our scholarship endowment is intended to encourage academic excellence and promote community and school involvement. To date, we have distributed over $200,000 in scholarships supporting more than 50 students since the fund's inception in 1999. We are proud to have been able to provide financial assistance to bright, deserving young women from New York entering Spelman.
About Virginia T. Dowell, C'47
The Virginia T. Dowell Endowed Scholarship Fund at Spelman College was established by the NY-NAASC to provide financial assistance to deserving students from New York State. Virginia T. Dowell’s career spanned 35 years as an educator in the New York area. She took on the task of recruiting and encouraging promising young women to attend Spelman College. She also served as President of the NY-NAASC from 1978 to 1982 with dedication and outstanding commitment.
In 1982, the New York Chapter honored her by naming a scholarship in her name—the Virginia T. Dowell Scholarship Award. This annual award is given to young women from New York state who will attend Spelman.
Virginia T. Dowell passed away in September 2013, leaving behind a profound legacy of service and commitment to Spelman College.
2020 VTD Scholars
JAEDA MCFARLANE
“I would like to extend my most sincere thank you for giving me the opportunity to comfortably further my education and the honor of representing Virginia T. Dowell and this organization.
This scholarship has made a significant difference in my experience at Spelman College. I am able to focus on all the opportunities offered, and this scholarship has played a large part in that. With a considerable amount of my financial burden lifted, I am able to devote more time to internships, fellowships and more.”
BRIANNA MOXAM
“This scholarship opportunity has such significant value to me, and I am eternally grateful. I appreciate all of those who made this possible and saw the potential in me as a Virginia T. Dowell scholar.
I am currently a freshman at Spelman College, majoring in Economics. I hope to pursue my dream of becoming a Personal Financial Advisor. Thanks to your financial assistance, I am one step closer to embarking on this dream, and it will be a vital reason for my success.”
MELISSA SIMMONS
“My name is Melissa Simmons, and I am currently a freshman at Spelman College. I am an Education Major in hopes of being a psychology or philosophy minor. I was born in Manhattan, but raised in Brooklyn, New York. I was also apart of the Brooklyn chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc. In my free time, I love to hang out with friends, cook, play my ukulele and guitar, and catch up on my favorite shows on Hulu.”