Jefferson and Walentas Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who demonstrate excellence and exceptional potential in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and engaged citizenship. Walentas Scholarship nominees must also be first-generation, college-bound students. Recipients receive the entire cost of attendance at UVA and many supplemental enrichment experiences—a value of more than $345,000.

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The Jefferson Scholars Foundation seeks to attract to the University of Virginia the most promising student leaders in the world, individuals who demonstrate superior potential for providing exceptional contributions to the University as students and to the world at large as alumni of the University. In granting the awards, the Foundation looks for excellence in:

1. leadership ability

2. scholarship ability

3. responsible citizenship

To be eligible to compete, a nominee must: 

1. Be an enrolled member of the current graduating class who has not yet received a diploma.

2. Be selected by their school as the nominee.

3. Not have been previously nominated for a Jefferson or Walentas Scholarship.

In addition, Walentas Scholarship nominees must be be first-generation college-bound, defined as neither parent/primary guardian having earned a bachelor’s degree or the international equivalent by the start of a student’s final year of high school.