Small Community. Big Impact.
We are pleased to announce that in 2023, the Justice High School Scholarship Fund (JHSSF) awarded $275,000 in scholarships to graduates of Justice High School. In addition, our partners awarded these scholarships: the Rotary Club of Bailey’s Crossroads ($8,000), the Thurgood Marshall Foundation ($30,000), and the Casey Schulman Foundation ($40,000). Together with our partners, we awarded 84 scholarships and $353,000 to the Justice High School Class of 2023. This is our largest award total ever!
Since our inception in 2005, the JHSSF and our partners have awarded over $3.0 million to help 961 Justice graduates take the important first step toward a college degree. In addition, we honor others’ contributions to the community via named scholarships, including several in memoriam of past members of the Justice (Stuart) High School community. In 2023, we were pleased to add a new named scholarship: the Resilience Scholarship, started by a Stuart/Justice alum.
The JHSSF provides “last-dollar” funds based on demonstrated financial need. That means that our scholarships help close the gap between financial aid packages, all other scholarships, and the remaining costs of college. The JHSSF assesses financial need based on the following:
Expected family contribution determined by FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Financial aid packages offered by colleges
Additional scholarships
Cost of attendance as determined by colleges
All payments are made directly to the educational institutions attended by scholarship recipients to pay for tuition, fees, books, and supplies. These include two- and four-year colleges and vocational schools.
Annually, selected JHSSF Board members serve as the scholarship review committee. They present recommendations for recipients and award amounts to the full Board for approval. Awards are determined on the basis of financial need, academic success and rigor of coursework, school activities, community involvement, work experience, and family responsibilities.
Our ability to award scholarships is based on the contributions received in any given year. In these challenging economic times, the need for assistance is especially great. College education costs continue to rise, making it very difficult for many high school graduates to begin post-secondary education. Many JHSSF recipients are unable to rely on their families for any assistance for their college educations. And many are the first in their families to attend college.
The JHSSF maintains low overhead and an all-volunteer Board so that almost 95% of all revenue raised funds scholarships. An independent CPA firm provides a financial review of Justice High School Scholarship Fund accounts every year.
Generous donations from our community—alumni, friends, family, local businesses, and neighbors—help to shape the futures of Justice High School graduates who would otherwise be unable to pursue their education and career goals. Together, we make college dreams a reality. Thank you for your continued support!
