NEWPORT NEWS, Va., June 17, 2025 -- The BayPort Foundation today announced it has awarded $100,000 in 12 different scholarship types to a total of 36 member students in the surrounding local communities attending a college, university, trade, or vocational school.
Since 1961, BayPort Credit Union has supported member students in funding their educational pursuits. Over that time, it has awarded over $1 million in scholarships. Today, the credit union's philanthropic arm, the BayPort Foundation, continues its mission to enrich members' lives by providing tuition assistance. Scholarship applications are scored on financial need, academic achievements, school and community involvement, and a written essay. In addition, students must be pursuing a degree or certification at an accredited college, university, trade, or vocational school.
This year, the BayPort Foundation introduced two new scholarships: the Julie Heldreth Memorial Scholarship and the Wright Family Scholarship. Both scholarships are family gifts to the BayPort Foundation Legacy Giving Program, which honors those who share BayPort's commitment and philanthropic efforts.
BayPort has partnered with WAVY-TV NBC and WVBT-FOX43 to honor its 2025 scholarship recipients as part of the BayPort Foundation Scholarship Salute recognition program. The Scholarship Salute will air daily between June 23 and July 27. For more information and to view the entire voluntary series beginning on June 23, please visit BayPort's YouTube channel.
The BayPort Foundation 2025 scholarship recipients are as follows:
Beard-Bennett Memorial Scholarship
Abel Lynerd, Warwick High School
Adriana DeGuzman, Tallwood High School
Ameerah Newby, Heritage High School
Ashlyn Martel, Hickory High School
Charles Moore, III, Phoebus High School
Olivia Jackson, Isle of Wight Academy
Burton P. Hill Scholarship
Grace Handle, Emory & Henry University
Directors Scholarship
Ashton Collins, James Madison University
Breanna Patierno, Pennsylvania State University
Carson Cunningham, Virginia Tech
Christopher Freshwater, American University
Jourdan Johnson, Regent University
Makenna Gruchow, Liberty University
Panisha Johnson, Old Dominion University
Donald I. Steppe Memorial Scholarship
Christian Diggs, Virginia Peninsula Community College
George R. Dudley, Jr. Scholarship
Natalee Harris, Kecoughtan High School
Julie Heldreth Memorial Scholarship
Cameron Cheek, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Malakye Brown, Virginia Peninsula Community College
McGee Family Scholarship
Allison King, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Rowe Family Scholarship
Katie Dodson, Old Dominion University
Student-Run Credit Union Member Scholarship
Alexander Gabbert, Summit Christian Academy
Joshua Ray, Heritage High School
Mikayla Parker, King's Fork High School
Sarah Campbell, Texas Christian University
Shelby Moore, Poquoson High School
Willard Davenport, III, Kecoughtan High School
Tuition Booster Scholarship
Aaron Thompson, Old Dominion University
Chanel White, Norfolk State University
Jenae Tynes, Liberty University
Lauren Wasilausky, ECPI University
Lori Allen, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Nathalia Matthews, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Wiatt Memorial Apprentice School Scholarship
Isaiah Washington, TBD
Melissa Westphal, Saint Leo University
Wright Family Apprentice School Scholarship
Johnathan Walker, Old Dominion University
Peter Cortapasso, Old Dominion University
About BayPort
BayPort Foundation is the charitable arm of BayPort Credit Union, headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, and was established to extend the credit union's philosophy of "people helping people." The Foundation is an extension of the credit union's charitable giving. BayPort Credit Union commits more than half a million dollars in annual corporate donations and pays all the Foundation's overhead to ensure that 100% of the Foundation donations support its mission. For more information, visit bayportfoundation.org.
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