Celebrating the Impact of Scholarships

This month, scholarship recipients met with and thanked some of the donors who have changed their lives through support of VCU Health Sciences students at the annual MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch.

“It is always heartening to see scholarship recipients and donors coming together to celebrate our students,” said Margaret Ann Bollmeier, president and CEO of the MCV Foundation. “This event is a vivid reminder of how important our mission is and how vital scholarships are for keeping a world-class education in the health sciences within reach for tomorrow’s leaders.”

2025 scholarship brunch guests
Scholarship donors, recipients and guests enjoyed the annual MCV Campus Endowed Scholarship Brunch at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia. Photos: Daniel Sangjib Min, MCV Foundation

On the MCV Campus, more than 563 endowed scholarships support health sciences students, including 22 new endowments since last March. About $9.6 million in endowed and current-use scholarship support was available for students in the 2024-25 academic year.

clifton porter and his wife deborah
Clifton Porter II and his wife, Deborah, established the Porter Legacy Scholarship and were featured speakers during the event.

Guest speakers at this year’s brunch included Clifton Porter II, a VCU College of Health Professions alum, and his wife, Deborah, a graduate of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at VCU. The couple established the Porter Legacy Scholarship in 2021.

“Having support is transformational,” Clifton said. “Sometimes we don’t know what we’re capable of until someone makes an investment in you and says, ‘I believe in you.’ It is incredibly important for us to educate future leaders who can identify with patients they’re serving, with those patients’ stories, and with staff.” 

hayden dux
Student speaker Hayden Dux, a third-year VCU School of Medicine student and recipient of the Harry and Harriet Grandis Scholarship, offered remarks of gratitude.

Hayden Dux, a third-year student at the VCU School of Medicine, offered a reflection on the impact being a scholarship recipient has made on his time on the MCV Campus. Dux received the Harry and Harriet Grandis Scholarship.

“Scholarships support students who have tremendous things to offer medicine and the world through a career in health care, as well as those who may not otherwise have the means or opportunity to pursue this calling,” Dux said. “The scholarship I received was the catalyst for all of the incredible learning experiences I’ve had during the past few years.”

 

In attendance were MCV Foundation staff including Brian Thomas, executive vice president and chief development officer and Margaret Ann Bollmeier, president and CEO; MCV Foundation board of trustees chair-elect Steve Gaidos and his wife, Susan; Tobi Ojo, recipient of the Porter Legacy Scholarship; VCU president Michael Rao, Ph.D.; and guest speakers Deborah and Clifton Porter II. 
Thanks to generous donors, more than 563 endowed scholarships support health sciences students on the MCV Campus.

To view the full photo album: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Pwx3P3Udb/

If you are interested in supporting an existing student scholarship or creating a new one, please contact Brian Thomas, the foundation’s vice president and chief development officer.

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