Farmville native earns Beales Family Scholarship
Beales Scholarship Evan French, a graduate of Prince Edward County High School in Farmville, Va., is the recipient of the Harriett Pittard Beales Scholarship at William & Mary for academic year 2009-10. Courtesy photo
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French, who is one of nearly 1,400 incoming freshmen at the College, plans to pursue his interests in a range of topics, including physics, math, biology and journalism. "I am thrilled to have been chosen as the Beales Scholar at William & Mary this year," French said. "It's wonderful that the Beales family helps students like me attend so prestigious a school."
The annual scholarship was established in 1984 by members of the Beales family of Boydton, Va., in honor of Harriett Pittard Beales, a member of William & Mary's Class of 1934 who has long been dedicated to the Boydton and William & Mary communities. The scholarship provides tuition assistance of around $4,000 to an incoming first-year student from one of 13 south central Virginia localities.
As a student, Mrs. Beales served as president of the Women's Honor Council and was named to Mortar Board. Most recently, she served as a class agent. Her sons, Walter R. Beales III and The Honorable Randolph A. Beales, also graduated from William & Mary.
"Southern Virginia and William & Mary retain a very special place in our mother's heart," Walter Beales said. "She is pleased that our family is supporting both interests by helping provide a William & Mary education to outstanding students from this region, and she delights in meeting them each year."
French was the salutatorian at Prince Edward County High School, as well as the senior patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop, an organization within which he has attained the rank of Eagle Scout. An active leader in his church and community, French is a skilled writer.
Recipients of the Harriett Pittard Beales Scholarship are selected based on academic secondary/preparatory school performance, extracurricular community activities and service, outstanding character and other personal achievements. All students from the 13 south central Virginia localities are automatically considered for this award upon admittance to William & Mary.
The College of William & Mary is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Established in 1693 by British royal charter, William & Mary is proud of its role as the alma mater of generations of American patriots, leaders and public servants. Now in its fourth century, it continues this tradition of excellence by combining the best features of an undergraduate college with the opportunities offered by a modern research university.
