CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW)- Eleven Charlottesville High School students were honored Thursday evening as the 2026 recipients of the Charlottesville Scholarship Program Fund. Each will get the help of the scholarship money to continue their education as they join the list of 223 students that have been helped by the fund over the course of its 25-year existence.  

The scholarship itself is unique, in that it is renewable, contingent on good grades. It’s recipients will be able to count on the money each year of their higher education career.

This year’s group of recipients includes aspiring homicide detectives, international diplomats, doctors, teachers, and a great many other varied careers. 

Scholarship board chairman and Charlottesville City School board member Chris Meyer explained that most of the students are first generation college students, and many arrived in the United States recently.   

“We need educated youth in the workforce to be doctors, teachers, healthcare workers, government workers,” Meyer said. “We have a broad set of people in these positions.” 

Charlottesville City Council created the program 25 years ago to help students in need of financial means to help make valuable contributions to the community through continuing their education.   

Each student also is given the opportunity to learn from a navigator, a community member with real-world experience and connections in their chosen field of study. Meyer mentioned that, on average, being a navigator amounts to only about an hour of time per week with the student. 

“It is a game changer and what separates CSP from other scholarships. I remain connected with the students I mentor for years after they graduate” said Mayor Juandiego Wade, who has served as a navigator multiple times with CSP. 

Despite a stellar mark of 1.3 million dollars endowed to hopeful young scholars over the 25 years of the fund, Meyer and his team are looking for alternative funding sources throughout the community.  From recent recipients of the grant to local businesses in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area, he says every bit helps. 

“We have a small endowment that doesn’t cover enough to support all 11 scholarships we want to provide and maintain.” 

Anyone looking to help can go to cvillescholarshipprogram.com, helping monetarily or with time to help as a navigator.