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Recruitment Scholarships

Incoming first-year students who have indicated on their Virginia Tech undergraduate application an interest in the Honors College are eligible to apply for the following recruitment scholarships. An individual student may not receive more than one of the scholarships listed below.

All of the following applications are available through Virginia Tech’s Scholarship Central page. All supplemental materials should also be submitted via that portal.  

Any issues related to application access should be referred to the Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid at 540-231-5179.






Applications for our recruitment scholarships open September 1, 2023, and close January 10, 2024. Pay attention to the dates — we will not extend deadlines.

It is strongly recommended that students apply Early Action (November 15th) in order to gain access to the scholarships.

Stamps Scholarship and Pamplin Scholars Program

The application deadline for the Stamps Scholarship is January 10, 2024. No extensions will be given, so plan ahead!  Access the application through Scholarship Central. It is strongly recommended that students apply Early Action (November 15th) in order to gain access to the scholarships.

Merit scholarships available to incoming first-year Honors College students who exemplify leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, and innovation. This scholarship covers estimated cost of attendance for four years filling in after any other scholarships won. Apply via Scholarship Central.

Merit scholarships available to incoming Honors College students. Variable, renewable award.

The Pamplin Scholars Program consists of two scholarships: the Pamplin Leadership Award and the Pamplin Scholar Award. The Pamplin Leadership Award is open to any high school senior who applies to Virginia Tech and is presented annually to up to 40 qualified students from among the Commonwealth of Virginia's public high schools. The Pamplin Leadership Award is a $5,000 one-year academic, merit-based scholarship. A student awarded the Pamplin Leadership Award is automatically eligible to apply for the Pamplin Scholar Award during her or his first year at Virginia Tech. Only winners of the Pamplin Leadership Award may apply for the Pamplin Scholar Award, which provides full Virginia Tech tuition and fees until graduation provided winners maintain good academic standing.

Pamplin Leadership Award 

In Pamplin Leadership Award winners (Pamplin Leaders), we seek students who demonstrate superior intellectual promise and academic performance, dedication to their communities, interest and success in physical fitness and health, and unimpeachable integrity. Students who accept this award must also agree to join the Honors College and work toward an Honors Laureate Diploma..

Scholarship Overview & Guidelines

  • Possible applicants include all qualified seniors enrolled at a Virginia public high school who have applied or will apply to Virginia Tech. There can be only one nominee from each high school.
  • Nominees must have at least a 3.8 cumulative GPA.
  • Students enrolled in a partial-day governor’s or magnet school should apply through the guidance office of their base high school. Students enrolled in an all-day governor’s or magnet school should apply through the guidance office of that school.
  • This application can be submitted to a high school counselor before knowing the status of admission. However, only a student who will matriculate to Virginia Tech can receive the award.
  • This scholarship has no connection to the Pamplin College of Business and is open to any student regardless of major.
  • Students who are selected as Pamplin Leaders automatically become Virginia Tech Honors College students.
  • Nomination by the high school does not imply that the student will receive a Pamplin Leadership Award – a nomination is merely an application for the scholarship. There are more high schools in Virginia than there are scholarships. Official notification comes from the Virginia Tech Honors College, not the high school.
Application Process

Each public high school in Virginia may have one applicant for the Pamplin Leadership Award. Once the nominee is identified by the school, they will go to Scholarship Central to apply.  The school must verify that the applicant is the nominee from that school.

Calhoun, McNamara and Alumni Presidential Scholarships

These scholarships are merit scholarships available to incoming, first-year Honors College students.  Students may apply for these three scholarships with one Honors College General Scholarship application. An individual student cannot receive more than one of the scholarships.