Honoring the Life and Legacy of Barbara Finney
The Barbara J. Finney Memorial Scholarship Fund honors an unforgettable mother, mentor, and educator. Barbara was a dedicated employee of the Alexandria City Public School System, making it her educational home from 1970 until she retired in 2009. Barbara began her career as a Health and Physical Education/Drivers’ Education teacher working at Alexandria City High School (formerly T. C. Williams), Minnie Howard, and F. C. Hammond. It became apparent to Barbara and those in leadership that she had a special talent of connecting with and supporting students in a broader context. This led to her being selected to serve as a Student Resource teacher at F. C. Hammond and later at Alexandria City High School. She also utilized her skills while working part-time for the Alexandria City Recreation Department. Her work at the high school was highlighted by assisting hundreds of students, many of whom were experiencing some difficulties navigating the important adolescent years of their development. She worked, mentored, and supported successive generations of long-time Alexandria families. After retirement, Barbara continued to mentor and serve as a substitute teacher and administrator.
The Finney Family has established this scholarship to help Alexandria City High School graduates who will be attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) while also pursuing a degree in education.
About The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria
The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria works to ensure that ALL Alexandria students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the opportunity to attend college. At today's Alexandria City High School (formerly TC Williams), two out of three students live at or below the federal poverty level. The COVID pandemic and its far-reaching socioeconomic impacts have hit local families with need the hardest--the very same families we serve. Just one scholarship can mean generations of financial stability and success for an Alexandria student and their family. Want to help make a difference? When we all give what we can, we can create a scholarship and help change a student's life.
The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria was established in 1986 to help ensure that ALL bright, hard-working students can afford postsecondary education. The SFA provides college advising, financial aid advising, college readiness support, and of course, college scholarships. Thanks to the generosity of the Alexandria community, the Scholarship Fund awards over $1.1 million in scholarships to Titan graduates each year. Most of our scholarships range from $12,000 to $40,000 over four years and can often mean the difference between a student being able to afford college, or simply staying home.
If you have any questions please contact: scholarshipfund@acps.k12.va.us