Beales Scholarships Support Students from Southside Virginia at the College of William and Mary

Strategic Insights -

Students from Southside Virginia, including 12 counties and the City of Emporia, are eligible for the Harriett Pittard Beales Scholarship and the Walter R. Beales III Scholarship on admission to the College of William and Mary. The scholarships, established by the Beales family, honor the legacy of Harriett Pittard Beales '34 and her son Walter R. Beales III '66, who have been marked by service and deep commitment to their community. The scholarships have helped open the doors of William and Mary to talented young scholars for over three decades.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Harriett Pittard Beales Scholarship and the Walter R. Beales III Scholarship provide merit-based support to students from Southside Virginia on admission to the College of William and Mary.
  • The scholarships are established by the Beales family to honor the legacy of Harriett Pittard Beales '34 and her son Walter R. Beales III '66, who have been marked by service and deep commitment to their community.
  • All students from the eligible Southside Virginia counties are automatically considered for both scholarships, and recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, leadership, community service, character, and other personal accomplishments.
  • The scholarships have already assisted over two dozen first-year students from all over Southside Virginia since its establishment in 1984.
  • The Walter R. Beales III '66 Scholarship was created in 2016 to honor the 50th anniversary of his graduation by his brother, Judge Randolph A. Beales.
  • The Beales family continues to be involved in the mentoring and support of scholarship recipients, with Walter Beales keeping in contact with many of the recipients over the years as a mentor and friend.

Statistics:

  • Over two dozen first-year students from all over Southside Virginia have received the scholarship since its establishment in 1984.
  • 12 counties and the City of Emporia are eligible for the Beales Scholarships.
  • The scholarships are merit-based and chosen based on academic achievement, leadership, community service, character, and other personal accomplishments.
  • 2 students, Anthony Okoye and Gracie Poos, are the current recipients of the Harriett Pittard Beales Scholarship and the Walter R. Beales III Scholarship, respectively.
  • The College of William and Mary has a tradition of providing an excellent liberal arts education and producing leaders and public servants for over 3 centuries.

Sources:

  • College of William and Mary: "Beales Scholarships Support Students from Southside Virginia"

[Article published on August 29, 2025, at the College of William and Mary website]