Five students who live in Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties have been awarded Tomorrow’s Promise college scholarships. In addition to the scholarship awards, the students will receive coaching and mentoring throughout college from RRHA staff. The honorees are: Francyne Hamilton of George Wythe High School

Two Richmond-area students recently earned college scholarships. Jessica J. Jenson is the recipient of the 2009 Pamplin Leader Award from Thomas Dale High School in Chester. The Pamplin Leader Award is a one-year $1,000 tuition scholarship to Virginia Tech. It is presented annually to a top student from each public high school in Virginia. It was established by Robert B. Pamplin Sr. (VT Class of ‘33) and Robert B. Pamplin Jr. to recognize students for academic achievement, community service and leadership experience.

Seven Virginia students are among 809 students nationwide who received scholarships for the 2009-2010 academic year through Verizon’s scholarship program for the children and dependents of company employees. The students will receive $5,000 annually toward their college expenses. Each scholarship is renewable for three years and has a total value of $20,000.

Lauren Nicole Porter, Steven Higbie and Thomas Vernon Allen have been awarded scholarships from American Family Fitness. Porter, a senior at Cosby High School, was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Higbie, a senior at Cosby High School, and Allen, a senior at Manchester High School, both received $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to Porter and Higbie at the Cosby High School awards program Friday, May 22, at 8:30 a.m. Allen will receive his scholarship at Manchester High School’s awards program Tuesday, May 26, at 7 p.m.

The Fort Lee (Virginia) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. is accepting nominations for five $500 academic scholarships. They will be awarded to a male graduating senior in the class of 2009 at Dinwiddie, Motoaca, Prince George, Petersburg and Hopewell high schools. Guidance counselors and teachers are asked to nominate students using all of the following requirements:

When Robert Marve decided to leave the University of Miami to play quarterback for another college, his coach said go, good luck. But . . . Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon said Marve could not play for another ACC school, any SEC college or any program in Florida.

A recent story in The Times-Dispatch on nuclear power [“Schools Restart Nuclear Programs”] is yet another powerful indicator of the resurgence of nuclear energy in our country’s schools as well as in the civilian power industry.

Two initiatives designed to help make college more affordable have received financial boosts. The University of Virginia announced yesterday that it has received $1 million for scholarships to help older students complete their degrees. And the College of William and Mary board of visitors said last week that the Gateway endowed fund for need-based aid has reached $10.7 million.