~High-energy college acceptance and scholarship celebration to be held April 29th~
April 23, 2025 |Norfolk, Virginia
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, more than 2,100 high school seniors from across South Hampton Roads and Northampton County will excitedly enter the Chartway Arena at Old Dominion University for a celebration that rivals graduation itself— Access College Foundation’s 8th Annual College Commitment Day.
This memorable event honors the achievements of area students who have been accepted into a certification or college degree program. College Commitment Day is a high-energy, school-spirited celebration featuring student recognition, lively music, and scholarship awards. During this exciting send-off, scholarships totaling nearly $80,000 will be awarded.
Access College Foundation was founded in 1988 by local philanthropists Frank Batten and Joshua P. Darden, Jr., to help low- to moderate-income students find a path to college who might not otherwise get there on their own. Today, Access Advisors are in every South Hampton Roads high school and Northampton County high school, and many middle schools, assisting students and their families in charting a course to a higher education degree or certification. Access sets area students up for success through its comprehensive continuum of college and career success services. These services begin in middle school with early awareness programming and continue in high school, where students receive advising services, financial assistance with entrance exam fees and college applications, college tours, help with financial aid application forms and identification of available scholarships, and Access “Last-Dollar” Scholarships. Access serves Access Scholars throughout college through continued advisory support services to guide them toward graduation. College Commitment Day celebrates the beginning of local students’ postsecondary educational journey.
“For nearly 37 years, Access has walked alongside our students, ensuring them that college is possible, and at College Commitment Day, we celebrate the talent, ambition, determination, and tenacity that got them to this moment,” said Bonnie B. Sutton, President and CEO of Access College Foundation. “It’s more than a celebration; it’s a declaration of dreams in motion. We’re proud to support these inspirational students as they take this next big step.”
“Organizing an event of this size is no small feat, but seeing the joy on these students’ faces and the pride in their parents’ eyes makes every effort worth it,” said Cheryl Jones, Vice President for Programs at Access. “These young people have worked hard to get to where they are today, and we’re here to help them shout it from the rooftops.”
This year’s College Commitment Day also shines a spotlight on the generous partners who help fuel Access’ mission.
TITLE PARTNER – $15,000
PRA Group, Inc.
PREMIER PARTNER – $15,000
Commonwealth Savers Plan
DIAMOND PARTNERS – $11,000
Dollar Tree
Old Dominion University – Host Partner
Sentara Health
Truist
DOCTORATE & GOLD PARTNERS – $6,000
Dominion Energy
Longwood University
Merrill Lynch – Campbell, Johnson & Earl Wealth Management Group
Norfolk State University
Virginia Tech
MASTER’S PARTNERS – $5,000
ECPI University
Elizabeth City State University
Tidewater Community College
University of Mary Washington
BACCALAUREATE & SILVER PARTNERS – $4,000
Christopher Newport University
Hampton University
Old Dominion Fire Company
Regent University
Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Wesleyan University
Willcox Savage
ASSOCIATE & BRONZE PARTNERS – $3,000
Chowan University
Radford University
Rivers Casino – Portsmouth
Virginia State University
PATRON PARTNERS – $2,000 and below
Birdsong Peanuts
Core Assurance Partners, Inc.
First Team Automotive Group
William & Mary
About Access College Foundation
Over 36 years, the Access College Foundation has helped more than 85,000 students and their families take college entrance examinations, apply for financial aid, submit final applications, and enroll in college. In the process, $871 million in financial aid and scholarships has been awarded to these students.
Through our Access “Last-Dollar” Scholarship, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to students totaling $16 million. These “Last-Dollar” awards bridge the gap between the total amount of financial aid a family qualifies and the final cost of attending college.
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