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At a recent ceremony at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center — UVA Health Auxiliary awarded $40,000 in scholarships to 14 high school and college student volunteers pursuing careers in healthcare. They were recognized for their academic achievement, volunteer service, and commitment to healthcare.  

Scholarships ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, with two recipients earning special distinction through honorary awards named after long-serving auxiliary leaders:  

• The $5,000 Paulette O’Connor Award in honor of the operator of the UVA Health Auxiliary’s thrift shop in Old Town Manassas for more than 30 years. 
• The $5,000 Nancy Lawson Award commemorating Nancy Haydon Parrish Lawson, a founding member of the UVA Health Auxiliary whose leadership and service helped shape its mission.  

Both recipients of these top awards also are recognized as Extraordinary Teen Award honorees by Prince William Living magazine in 2024 and 2025 for their academic excellence, volunteerism, and leadership within the community.  

“This scholarship program is a powerful reflection of our auxiliary’s mission to support quality healthcare and inspire future professionals,” says April Beckner, Manager, Guest and Volunteer Services, UVA Health Culpeper, Haymarket, and Prince William Medical Centers. “We are proud to invest in students who have already shown compassion, leadership, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. We are dedicated to innovation and continuous growth and development of ourselves and those around us.”  

Scholarship winners will attend the following respected institutions:  

• University of Virginia (five students)
• George Mason University (four students) 
• Northern Virginia Community College 
• Randolph-Macon College 
• University of Maryland 
• University of South Carolina 
• Virginia Commonwealth University 

To be eligible, students must:

• Be active volunteers with UVA Health Auxiliary and Volunteer Services.
• Contribute at least 75 hours of service.
• Maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• Be accepted into or currently enrolled in an accredited healthcare program.

A scholarship selection committee comprised of auxiliary members and UVA Health team members carefully reviews all applications. 

The auxiliary’s scholarship program is part of a broader effort to strengthen the pipeline of future healthcare professionals while honoring the spirit of volunteerism. Many recipients go on to study nursing, medicine, allied health, and public health. Several past scholars have returned to UVA Health to begin their careers. 

Learn more about volunteer opportunities and the scholarship program.