Jefferson Scholars Foundation

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation describes its mission as building a community of leaders, scholars, and citizens. It attracts outstanding undergraduate students through two scholarship programs, supports world-class graduate students through two fellowship programs, and engages leading researchers who create transformative classroom experiences. The Foundation was founded to bring individuals to the University of Virginia who want to use their talents in ways bigger than themselves—for the good of the University and the world beyond.

The Jefferson Scholars Foundation was founded to bring individuals to the University of Virginia who want to use their talents in ways bigger than themselves—for the good of the University and the world beyond. In the 1980s, the first class of Jefferson Scholars matriculated to the University, and Jimmy Wright officially began to work as director. In the 1990s, the Jefferson Fellowship Program was established and the first class joined the University. In the 2000s, the Jefferson Scholars Program celebrated its 25th anniversary, and the Jefferson Scholars Foundation Faculty Prize was created. In the 2010s, the Jefferson Fellows Center, a 32,700-square-foot LEED Gold certified facility, was completed; the Foundation established two more faculty awards, the Hartfield Excellence in Teaching Award and the Award for Excellence in Teaching; and it also established its Distinguished Professorship Program. In the 2020s, a new scholarship program aimed at attracting the most talented first-generation students to the University of Virginia was established as part of a $100 million gift announced in October 2019. During the 1960s, the diversification that followed the civil rights movement changed the face of the University: enrollment more than doubled between 1965 and 1980, attracting close to 50 percent women for the first time as well as almost 10 percent minority students. This growth fueled UVA's ability to compete at a national level for an even greater percentage of exceptional undergraduates. In turn, the Dean of Admissions charged several regional alumni chapters.

Committed to bringing individuals to the University of Virginia who want to use their talents in ways bigger than themselves—for the good of the University and the world beyond.

1. 1Homepage | Jefferson Scholars Foundationjeffersonscholars.org
2. 2Answering the Call | Jefferson Scholars Foundationjeffersonscholars.org
3. 3Jefferson Scholars Foundationwikidata.org