2027 Scholarship Program

Applications open in early 2027. Everything you need to prepare is on this page, so you can start collecting transcripts, letters, and your essay now.

Start your checklist

A mentor congratulating graduates holding certificates

Applications open

Early 2027

Deadline

To be announced

The 2026 deadline was April 15, 2026.

For students starting college in

fall 2027

Who can apply

Graduating seniors from five local communities

The scholarship is open to every graduating senior at an accredited high school in these cities and counties. Award amounts vary and are set by the Foundation Board each year.

Petersburg
Hopewell
Chesterfield
Prince George
Dinwiddie

To be considered, you must

Be accepted as a full-time freshman for the fall 2027 term at an accredited college or university.
Have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
Show financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and community service.

What to submit

Build your application packet

You'll need all seven items. Check them off as you go; your progress stays on this device.

0 of 7 ready

Completed applicationThe official scholarship application form, with every field filled in.
Official transcriptShowing your overall GPA, class rank, and all grades through the first semester of senior year.
Academic recommendationAn original letter from an educator who knows your academic work, in a sealed envelope with their signature across the seal.
Character recommendationAn original letter from an employer, community leader, minister, or another adult who isn't family, sealed and signed across the seal.
Biographical essayNo more than 250 words about you and your family, your education and career goals, and your plan to reach them.
College acceptance letterCopies of your acceptance letters from your college or university.
Wallet-size photoA color, camera-ready photo. It's used in the awards program if you're selected.

The 2027 application form will be posted here when applications open. Want to see what it asks? Preview the 2026 application (PDF).

How to submit

Send your packet by email or mail

Include the completed application and every supporting document. Incomplete applications are not considered.

By email

Send your completed application and scanned supporting materials to:

scholarships@williejbradleyjrfoundation.org

By mail

Willie J. Bradley Foundation, Inc.
Attn: WJB Scholarship Committee
P.O. Box 3762
Chester, VA 23831

A laptop, college brochures, and an acceptance letter on a desk by a sunny window

Go to High School, Go to College

A legacy rooted in education

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity founded by African American men, was established at Cornell University on December 4, 1906. Its national education program began in 1919 with the "Go to High School, Go to College" campaign.

The foundation shares the fraternity's aim: to stir the ambitions of students and the community, and to prepare them for greater service. Its motto says it plainly: "Scholarship, Manly Deeds, and Love for All Mankind."

Questions students ask

Don't see yours? Email the scholarship committee or call (804) 452-7727.

When will the 2027 application be available?

Applications are expected to open in early 2027. The form and the deadline will be posted on this page as soon as the board confirms them. In 2026 the deadline was April 15.

How much is each scholarship?

Award amounts vary and are set by the Foundation Board each year.

My school is in one of the five areas, but I live elsewhere. Can I apply?

Eligibility is based on attending an accredited high school in Petersburg, Hopewell, Chesterfield, Prince George, or Dinwiddie. If your situation is unusual, email the committee before you apply.

Do the recommendation letters have to be sealed?

Yes. Each letter must be an original in a sealed envelope, with the recommender's signature across the seal.

What if my application is late or missing something?

Incomplete applications are not considered. Applications received or postmarked after the deadline are returned to the applicant, so use the checklist above before you send anything.

Know a senior who should apply?

Send them this page. Most students hear about scholarships from someone who cared enough to pass it along.

Fund a scholarship