James Madison University
IN-47: Innovation A

The Valley Scholars (VS) program provides outreach activities to first generation middle and high school students, engaging them in educational enrichment activities designed to increase awareness and access to institutions of higher education with the goal of providing scholarship support for students admitted to and attending James Madison University. The Valley Scholars program serves first-generation, financially eligible students, who are motivated and show academic promise in middle school and throughout high school. Current partner school districts include Augusta County, Harrisonburg City, Page County, Rockingham County, Shenandoah County, Staunton City, and Waynesboro City Schools.

After completing the application and interview process, students are selected in the spring of the 7th grade year, with program participation beginning in the 8th grade. While other programs for first generation college students or economically disadvantaged students exist, Valley Scholars is unique in identifying geographically disadvantaged students from rural areas surrounding JMU who are less likely to consider going to college as an option.

Students who complete the program and apply and are accepted to JMU receive full scholarships. The program accepted its first applicants in 2014, and 26 students from the first cohort enrolled at JMU in 2019. In the fall of 2021 64 students attended JMU. In May 2023, JMU celebrated the graduation of the first cohort of Valley Scholars; 86 Valley Scholars are currently enrolled at JMU (Spring 2024) with over 200 more already in the pipeline at local schools (https://www.whsv.com/2023/05/27/jmu-celebrates-graduation-first-valley-scholars-cohort/; Accessed 10/13/23)). The majority of students earn DE credit while in VS; the program provides tuition support to ensure students can enroll in the DE classes through BRCC.  

The program offers educational and cultural enrichment opportunities with twelve program days occurring throughout the academic year. Students also attend a week-long summer camp for the summers between 9th and 11th grades. The central focus of the program is to foster and encourage a desire to learn, while also building skills that will help students achieve the academic success necessary for college attendance. In cooperation with the College of Education, Valley Scholars maintains a mentoring program for 8^th and 9^th graders, where JMU students visit with them one hour per week at their school. JMU mentors are enrolled for credit through CoE and generally stay with the students for 1-2 years. 

Examples of the week-long summer enrichment programs include:

2021: The Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy, which focuses on research, education, and outreach, engaged students in a hands-on activity to build solar suitcases and send them to a school for refugees in Kenya.

2021: Partnering with Shenandoah National Park studying the stewardship of public lands, students camped in the park, hiked the Appalachian Trail and explored geological features.

2023: Tours of Monticello (home of Thomas Jefferson) and Montpelier (home of James Madison) were conducted with a follow-up project entailing a critique of tours and development of students' own tours of the two historic landmarks. (https://www.jmu.edu/first-gen/valleyscholars/newsletter-2023-summer-compressed.pdf; Accessed 10/23/23)

VS partnered with the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship and a company called Makers Mark to offer a program teaching entrepreneurship skills.

Currently, Vallley Scholars is adding an esports program in cooperation with JMU's X-labs.

The Valley Scholars program is also included in PA-8, Affordability and Access, but goes beyond the criteria for that credit. In addition to scholarships, students in the program receive academic coaching, college application support, and SAT preparation, attend college campus tours, participate in community service, such as cleanup events, and build community with a cohort of students in the program.

Data was reviewed by Shaun Mooney, Director, Valley Scholars Program on 4/23/24, and updated with additions by Essa Paterson, ISNW 4/25/24. Newsletter added 8/8/24.