News Summary
The Williamsburg Descendants Scholarship has been introduced to support local residents with Black ancestry through financial assistance for educational costs. Announced on August 2, 2023, the scholarship offers up to $5,400 yearly for up to four years. The initial recipients include Tasja Bartlett, Corniya Taylor, Brandon Freeman, and Nasir Simms, who have shown a commitment to furthering their education. The program addresses racial disparities and aims to enhance educational access, fostering opportunities for descendants of historically marginalized families.
Williamsburg announced the first recipients of the Williamsburg Descendants Scholarship on August 2, 2023. This scholarship program aims to address the long-term effects of racism by providing financial assistance to residents of greater Williamsburg with Black ancestors who lived in the area before 1964. The scholarship can help with tuition, books, and other educational expenses, offering each recipient up to $5,400 annually for a maximum of four years.
The inaugural group of recipients includes Tasja Bartlett, Corniya Taylor, Brandon Freeman, and Nasir Simms. Each of these students has ties to the local community and a strong commitment to furthering their education. The scholarship program was developed in recognition of the ongoing impact of systemic racism and racial disparities within the community, and it falls under the guidance of the Williamsburg Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
The scholarship is open to individuals who can trace their ancestry to Black families in the Williamsburg area before the historical milestone of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. The program, which can award four new scholarships annually, requires applicants to submit an essay, their academic transcript, and a letter of recommendation. A committee made up of local educators, civic leaders, and members of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and making selections.
The initiative has received wide recognition from local leaders, including city officials. The mayor of Williamsburg described the scholarship as a crucial step towards closing the gaps that systemic racism has created in educational opportunities. The city council unanimously approved this scholarship program in a session held in October, and the fund commenced with an initial gift of $250,000 from the City of Williamsburg.
Tasja Bartlett, one of the scholarship recipients, is a lifelong Williamsburg resident who recently graduated from ECPI University with a degree in Medical Radiography. Her motivation stems from personal experiences with breast cancer, which have shaped her educational and career aspirations. Brandon Freeman, another recipient, plans to study civil engineering at Christopher Newport University while participating in the university’s basketball team. He, too, has strong local ties and a commitment to furthering his education.
Nasir Simms, descending from the Clay Street families, intends to pursue a degree in Computer and Information Sciences at Virginia Union University. Simms’s family history reflects the educational achievements of previous generations. Corniya Taylor, also a scholarship recipient, has roots in a family with four generations of educated African American women and is set to graduate from Lafayette High School in 2024. Taylor plans to attend Virginia Peninsula Community College to study health science.
The development of the Williamsburg Descendants Scholarship is part of a broader effort spearheaded by the Williamsburg Truth and Reconciliation Committee, which aims to address not only the educational disparities but also the broader impact of racism and racial injustice in the community. With a goal of enhancing educational access and equity, the program aspires to provide opportunities for upward mobility for future generations of descendants from these historically marginalized families.
The scholarship is actively seeking contributions from local individuals and organizations who want to participate in fostering educational equity and supporting the descendants of Black families in the area. Interested parties can contact the Williamsburg Community Foundation for additional information or to offer support.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Press: Williamsburg Descendants Scholarship Recipients
- Daily Press: Building a Bigger Table for Generational Impact
- Williamsburg Families: Williamsburg Community Foundation Scholarship Fund
- Wikipedia: Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Google Search: Educational Equity
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
