Rappahannock Community College Honors Scholarship Recipients and Donors at Annual Celebration
Rappahannock Community College (RCC) recently hosted its annual Scholarship Reception, honoring student recipients and generous donors whose support continues to transform lives across the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck.
RCC’s Educational Foundation, Inc. (EFI), awarded a record $755,500 in scholarships to 597 students for the 2025-2026 academic year. Notably, all 180 high school applicants from RCC’s service region received a scholarship. “That is extraordinary,” RCC President Shannon Kennedy noted. “It means fewer students have to choose between the cost of living and the cost of learning. It means more students complete their studies on time and with less or no debt. And it means more graduates stay here—as nurses, teachers, entrepreneurs, and leaders who strengthen our local communities.”
The event celebrated both achievement and generosity, highlighting the impact of scholarships that make higher education more accessible for hundreds of RCC students each year.
Dr. Rob Gates, long-time supporter and chair of the EFI board, welcomed guests and reflected on the growth of RCC’s scholarship program. “I’ve had the pleasure of over 20 years of involvement with RCC, both on the Local and Foundation boards, and have witnessed the growth of our scholarship program,” Gates said. “It’s been a truly rewarding experience, and my wife Beverly and I take great pride in supporting a scholarship that helps empower students.”
“What a joy it is to see our scholarship donors, student recipients, families, faculty, and staff together in one room,” Kennedy said. “Tonight, we celebrate achievement, generosity, and the shared belief that education changes lives. I am so proud of you. Many of you balance classes with jobs, family responsibilities, and community commitments. Eighty percent of our students attend part-time while juggling real-life demands, and yet you show up, persist, and succeed.”
Kennedy also highlighted RCC’s recent 5.1% enrollment growth and shared updates on upcoming projects, including a new Health Sciences facility on the Warsaw Campus and expanded training opportunities in diesel and welding on the Glenns Campus. RCC is the only provider of nursing and diagnostic medical sonography programs in the region.
“As we celebrate 55 years of RCC, we are not just looking back—we are building what comes next: more access, more completion, more graduates in high-demand fields, and more partnerships that ensure talent grows locally,” she said. “With your continued support, we will keep doors open, dreams within reach, and opportunities close to home.”
Kwanita Yeo, a recent graduate of RCC’s nursing program and a leader in the CHAMPS (Career Help and Mentoring for Parenting Students) program, shared her journey of perseverance and gratitude. “My journey at RCC began in 2022. At the time, I had recently become a new mom, and my goal was to become a nurse,” Yeo said. “Nursing school was no joke—long days, endless studying, and trying to balance family and work—it was a lot. But being a nursing student at RCC and working with CHAMPS gave me more than just an education. It gave me a support system.”
Yeo credited RCC faculty, staff, and scholarship donors with helping her achieve her dream of becoming a postpartum nurse. “When I look back at how far I’ve come—from a new mom just starting classes to a registered nurse—I know it wouldn’t have been possible without RCC’s caring faculty and our scholarship donors. As someone who once labeled herself a ‘college dropout,’ I can say that your guidance and generosity made my education possible,” she shared.
As the program concluded, a thank you video from the scholarship recipients to donors reminded guests that every scholarship represents more than financial aid—it represents hope, opportunity, and community.
“RCC isn’t just where I earned my degree,” Yeo shared. “It’s where I found my purpose and my people.”
The 2026-27 RCC scholarship application is now open until February 19, 2026. For more information on applying or on establishing a scholarship, visit www.rappahannock.edu/scholarships.