Scholarships & Awards

All recipients selected by the Department Awards Committee in consultation with the Department Head, except as noted.

Finance Student of the Year: Awarded based on academic merit.  (plaque only, no financial award)

Finance Service & Leadership Award(s) - Based primarily on evidence of outstanding service and/or leadership at the departmental, college, or university level. Solid academic performance is also required. All options and majors in the Department of Finance will be considered.

SEED Outstanding Upcoming Analyst Award - The SEED Outstanding Upcoming Analyst Award recognizes an analyst who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and technical proficiency. This award celebrates an individual who consistently exhibits a strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and ability to contribute to the organization. The analyst's proactive approach, pitch ideas, and commitment to SEED's mission are testaments to their talent and future leadership within the organization.

Academic Excellence Award - 1. Two students shall be selected who have demonstrated financial need and who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 2. The scholarship will initially be awarded to incoming freshmen students who are majoring within the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law. 3. The recipients may continue to receive the awards in subsequent academic periods for up to a total of four years as long as they maintain a minimum GPA 2.5 GPA and remain majoring within the department.

The BASIS STAR Award - The STAR award was designed to recognize a graduating senior for their selfless service to the group. The primary target is not an officer because we wanted to recognize someone not in an executive role who is already understood to be providing lots of service to the group by sacrificing their time to take a leadership position. The initial concept of the award was for service that perhaps might have gone overlooked or of which the general membership might not have been fully aware. But in years where all the graduates that year were officers, there may not be anyone to choose who might have served “under the radar."

CFI Financial Advisors Senior Award - To recognize student (s) who have excelled in Financial Planning. The aim of this scholarship is to assist students in personal/professional Development in preparation for their career.

Rembert, Pendleton & Jackson Outstanding Senior Award: One or two awards to recognize a student who has excelled in the CFP® option. Selected by outside review board.

Meir I. Schneller Teaching Excellence Award for PhDs - An annual award given for outstanding instructional work by a Finance PhD student for the current academic year.

Dilip Shome Doctoral Student Scholarship - Criteria for Award of Scholarship: 1. The doctoral candidate must have a demonstrated record of achievement in the program. 2.The doctoral candidate must exhibit outstanding promise in his or her thesis. "Outstanding promise" here is based on contribution to the field and likelihood of publication in Pamplin elite finance or economics journals. 3. Merit is the requirement for the award.

The Herakovich Teaching Award - The Herakovich Teaching Award candidate will be selected based on the following guidelines: Recipients must be an instructor/professor of undergraduate student courses in the Department of Finance, Insurance & Business Law. Recipient will be chosen by a selection committee composed of graduating students based on excellence in teaching in and outside of the classroom. Recipient can win in consecutive years.

All recipients must be primary Finance majors. Recipients may be in any option, unless otherwise noted. All recipients selected by the Department Awards Committee in consultation with the Department Head.

BASIS GEM Scholarship - To provide full or partial scholarships using the following guidelines: 1. Recipients shall be, at the time of receipt of the scholarship funds, members in good standing of the BASIS program. 2. Recipients shall have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of receipt of the award. 3. Recommendations for candidates to be considered will be made to the appropriate scholarship and award committee by the BASIS faculty advisors. 4. Preference may be given to previous recipients who continue to qualify in subsequent academic years. Recipient picked by BASIS Advisor.

Emily Caldwell Morrison Memorial Scholarship - To support a student within the department who is a sophomore or Junior at the time of the award.

Scott and Vicki Culbreth Endowed Scholarship - To support a student majoring in Finance in the PCOB.

Dennis and Susan Duncan Banking and Real Estate Finance Scholarship - One or two scholarships based on academic achievement with preference given to students with an interest in banking and real estate and a preference for students from Giles and Culpepper Counties.

Korte Family Scholarship - One or two scholarships based on academic achievement and awarded to Virginia residents.

Jacob Lutz III Scholarship: One or two scholarships awarded to Virginia residents based on academic achievement and GPAs of 3.0 or higher. 

Outstanding Rising Senior Scholarship: One or more scholarships for rising seniors based on academic achievement and evidence of leadership. 

Outstanding Rising Junior Scholarship: One or more scholarships for a rising junior based on academic achievement and evidence of leadership.

Curtis A. and June Haworth Thompson Scholarship: One scholarship awarded to a rising senior majoring in Finance based on academic achievement and leadership potential.

SEED Scholarship in Investment Management - One scholarship for SEED member, based on academic merit.

Sunita and Rajan Vaswani Scholarship: One or two scholarships awarded to an undergraduate Finance student with the preference for the FinTech Option.

Wells Fargo Leadership Development Scholarship: One or two scholarships based on academic achievement and leadership potential with a preference for previous recipients who continue to qualify. 

Braun '87 & Angela Jones Scholarship- 1. Two students shall be selected who have demonstrated financial need and who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 2. The scholarship will initially be awarded to incoming freshmen students who are majoring within the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law. 3. The recipients may continue to receive the awards in subsequent academic periods for up to a total of four years as long as they maintain a minimum GPA 2.5 GPA and remain majoring within the department.

George F. Clarke Scholarship - A scholarship for students whose primary major is within the Pamplin College of Business. The Donor would like preference given to prospective students or matriculated students who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia and who meet the following eligibility criteria: Students who are among the first generation within their family to pursue a post-secondary education. Students who are members of an underrepresented population of students within the college. Students pursuing a primary major within the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law.

Mike Clarke Credit Careers Scholarship - To recognize outstanding achievement by undergraduate students in credit and to support and encourage students who express an interest in banking in the area of credit risk management. Qualifications: 1. Student(s) must be an under- graduate student in good standing with the university 2. Student(s) must be a full-time student making progress toward fulfilling degree requirements 3. Student(s) is expected to be enrolled or have taken Credit Analysis or have the equivalent 4. Student(s) must have applied for and received a scholarship from the Risk Management Association for their academic performance and interest in banking 5. The award(s) will be made to students exhibiting high academic achievement, exemplary leadership and service, and considering a career in credit, credit analysis, and not based on financial need. 6. The student is expected at a minimum to maintain their academic performance throughout their senior year. Process: 1. Student applications must be endorsed by a faculty member who either has taught Credit Analysis, Fixed Income Securities, Bank Management or Credit Corps. 2. Application for the Clarke matching scholarship is August 1 3. One or more students may receive the scholarship in any given year if they meet the above qualifications. 4. If more than two candidates qualify, the per year amount available will be divided pro rata among the candidates as long as the amount received by each will be at least $1,000. 5. In the event the funds available will not provide at least the amount above, the award will be made to a limited number of candidates. the decision on who receives the award will be made to a limited number of candidates. The decision on who receives the award will be made by a committee composed of the faculty lead for the RMB option, an instructor or Credit Analysis course, and the Credit Corps lead faculty member. 6. RMA will be asked to notify the Department fiscal lead or the Dept Head of the RMA awards in a timely fashion to allow entry of the student into the scholarship applicant database. Alternatively, the Student may provide evidence of an RMA scholarship award. 7. Decision on the awardee(s) will be made by August 15. Award: 1. The award will be in an amount that matches the award of an RMA Foundation Scholarship (currently up to $2000 per candidate).

Vijay & Manisha Singal Scholarship - Three scholarships to be awarded to students majoring in Finance with the highest academic achievement: Preference given to (i) students pursuing FinTech option, (ii) students from an underrepresented population, and/or (iii) students from the Indian Students Association (or similar group).

Wohlford Family Finance Scholarship - To support scholarships for one or more students pursuing studies on the corporate financial management track investment with a 3.0 or higher GPA. Recipients will be selected according to an application process within the college. Previous recipients who continue to fulfill the criteria and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible to re-apply for award in subsequent academic periods. Students engaged in organized, experiential programs (e.g. SEED, BASIS, Credit Corps) in the Pamplin College of Business are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

Steven Williamson Scholarship - To provide scholarships for undergraduate students in the Financial Planning and Wealth Mgmt major. Scholarships will be awarded based on a short essay describing the applicant's significant improvement in academic, professional, and/or personal commitment and achievement since joining the Financial Planning and Wealth Mgmt Program, and academic performance.

John & Suzanne King SEED Intern Scholarship - Annual distributions from the Fund will be administered by the Dean of the Pamplin College of Business, in consultation with the advisor of Student-Managed Endowment for Educational Development ("SEED"), to facilitate internship opportunities for students who are members of SEED and who have demonstrated financial need. This support can include but is not limited to, travel expenses and clothing purchases. If allowable by federal, state, and institutional policy and regulations, awards will be made to students in the spring semester prior to their internship experience with an estimated $5,000 award per student. Award amount and timing will ultimately be at the discretion of the advisor to SEED in consultation with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid to ensure maximum benefit to student recipient. We understand it is the Donors intention that Virginia Tech use no portion of this gift to offset budget needs for SEED as a student organization. Any awards made to students shall be made in accordance with accepted policies of VT's Office of USFA. If for any reason the annual distributions of the Fund in any given year are not used they may be added to the principal or accumulated for future use. This will be at the direction of the Pamplin College of Business.

Nixon, Samuel H Jr. Insurance Scholarship - To provide full or partial scholarships to students who are enrolled or shall be at the time of receipt of scholarship funds, enrolled in the Department of Finance, Insurance, and Business Law in Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business. Preference based upon: (1) a demonstrated interest in the field of insurance, (2) academic achievement, (3) good character, and (4) financial need.

All recipients must be in CFP® Option

Financial Planning Alumni Scholarship: One scholarship awarded on the basis of the applicant’s story about the significant improvement in academic, professional, and/or personal commitment and achievement since enrolling in the Financial Planning Program. 

Financial Planning Association (FPA) of Central Virginia Scholarship - One or more scholarships with a primary preference given to students demonstrating extracurricular leadership and community service and secondary preference to academic achievement. Applicants must be a member of the Financial Planning Association.

McCarthy, Mannen, Daniel, Meth, and Williamson Ameriprise Financial Advisors Scholarship - One scholarship with a preference for students with financial need and demonstrated academic achievement.

Judith A. Orell Scholarship - One or more scholarships. Application required that includes an essay about the applicant’s personal experience with end-of-life issues and and/or interest, as a financial planner, in helping clients understand and prepare for end-of-life care decisions and costs.

Rebeka Ruth Becks Financial Planning Scholarship - One or more scholarships. Application required including essay about the role of financial planning in helping families with children to accomplish goals over the life cycle. This scholarship is given in honor of Rebeka Ruth Becks by her mother, a financial planner, who wishes to recognize her daughter’s enduring commitment to families and children.

Verus Financial Partners Financial Planning Scholarship: One scholarship awarded to a rising senior. Preference given to a student pursuing a double-major with accounting although this is not a requirement to apply.

Wealthstream - One scholarship awarded on the basis of the applicant’s short essay describing why he/she chose to study financial planning and/or pursue a career in financial planning. Applicants must have a minimum overall 3.0 GPA.

Charles Schwab Foundation Scholars in Financial Planning - The Donor intends the awards be made according to the following guidelines: 1. Recipients shall be undergraduate students in PCOB who are enrolled full time at VT, in good standing, and who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. 2. Recipients shall be Finance majors with the Financial Planning option in the 2nd semester of their sophomore year; the scholarship shall be for use in the final two years or four semesters of the recipient's undergraduate degree program. 3. Preference shall be given to students who are members of an underrepresented population of students at VT, particularly participants of the following officially recognized, registered student organizations, or successor organizations: African Students Association, Student African American Brotherhood at VT, The National Association of Black Accountants, Student African American Sisterhood at VT, Black Students in STEM, Black Organizations Council, Black Student Alliance, and the National Society of Black Engineers. There shall be no GPA requirement. Transfer students shall be eligible to receive the scholarship. To be eligible for the automatic renewal, a recipient shall be in good academic standing and remain in the Finance Major with the Financial Planning Option in the PCOB.

Steven Williamson Financial Planning Scholarship - To provide scholarships for undergraduate students in the Financial Planning and Wealth Mgmt major. Scholarships will be awarded based on a short essay describing the applicant's significant improvement in academic, professional, and/or personal commitment and achievement since joining the Financial Planning and Wealth Mgmt Program, and academic performance.

Dr. Ruth Lytton Selfless Service Award Scholarship - Dr. Ruth Lytton Selfless Service Award Scholarship/2025: One scholarship awarded to an undergraduate student enrolled in the Pamplin College of Business, majoring in Financial Planning and Wealth Management (CFPF), who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the major. Preference shall be given to a rising senior or upperclassman.