GRACE TINSLEY MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Grace Tinsley

Helping CHS Graduates Continue Their Education

Each year, we award college scholarships to outstanding Charlottesville High School seniors who exhibit the positive traits of character Grace Tinsley modeled, including courage, humor, and perseverance.

Grace Tinsley scholars

Our Scholars

Each year, the Grace Tinsley Memorial Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to graduating seniors at Charlottesville High School. Recipients are selected for displaying the character traits Grace Tinsley embodied: courage, humor, and perseverance.

Meet our scholars →
Painting of Grace Tinsley

Our Mission

Grace Tinsley was a courageous advocate for our youth and for anyone who needed help. This scholarship program perpetuates her legacy by supporting the next generation of leaders in Charlottesville.

She served as the first African American woman to sit on the Charlottesville School Board, and dedicated her life to expanding opportunity through education.

Learn about Grace →
An unsung hero

Our Unsung Heroes

Every year we honor a local hero whose service reflects the values Grace held dear: leadership, problem-solving, and building community. These are the people who go above and beyond — quietly, consistently, and without fanfare.

Meet our heroes →
Scholarship supporters

How You Can Help

Our scholars are talented, determined young people who need community support to reach their educational goals. Your donation — of any size — goes directly toward funding annual scholarships.

Donate today →
Grace Tinsley Scholarship Bash

Our Celebration

Join us for the Grace Tinsley Memorial Scholarship Bash — an annual event celebrating our scholars and honoring Grace's extraordinary legacy of community service.

2026 marks our 20th anniversary. Details coming soon.

Bash details →