Scholarships   In 2009 the American Descendants of the House of Burgesses 1619-1699 was organized with Joyce McGehee Bockemuehl as Organizing Governor General. It was decided that honoring our ancestors who were the founding law makers in forming this country that our philanthropic endeavors would be to assist a deserving law student in a college of law in the Commonwealth of Virgina. There are 8 colleges offering a law degree in Virginia.    1. University of VA School of Law - Charlottesville, VA 2. Washington & Lee University School of Law - Lexington, VA 3. William & Mary School of Law - Williamsburg, VA 4. George Mason School of Law - Arlington, VA 5. University of Richmond School of Law - Richmond, VA 6. Regent University School of Law Virginia Beach, VA 7. Liberty University School of Law - Lynchburg, VA 8. Appalachian School of Law - Grundy, VA  A letter is sent to each college each August. To obtain this purpose an application was filled out and submitted for 501(c)3 status by our Organizing Governor. The desired result was obtaining the 501(c)3 in March. This  resulted in the need for a Bylaw change to follow the needed requirements for this exemption. It was then hoped that members would support this endeavor with tax deductible donations so the fund could grow. In 2011 our first grant was awarded to Garrett Hooe at the University of Richmond School of Law. In reviewing this young man's information it was found that he could indeed qualify for membership in this society as his ancestry goes back to Rice Hooe in the 1600's and Rice Hooe was indeed a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia In 2012 out selection was a young lady at William & Mary School of Law named Katie Ocampo. She had an interesting background with a B.A in Political Science from the University of Hawaii and was conversational in Japanese and basic French. She transferred from University of Maryland King Carey School of Law to William & Mary in 2011-12. This was the fall of the storms that hit the east coast and her family was forced to evacuate for awhile. In 2013, Blake Christopher was our winner and was a delight to all that met him. Following his comments explaining how the award would help him and that meeting the members had made him realize the importanceof heritage and family several members made a contribution to the scholarship fund investments and this has allowed us to increase the award.   In 2014, Meredith Stradley was the recipient of the scholarship.  She obtained a degree in chemical engineering, cum laude, from Bucknell University.  While there, she enrolled in a study abroad program in Northern Ireland.  She worked at the Michelin Corp. from 2011-14 and decided to return to school to obtain a patent attorney degree.  She is currently enrolled at George Mason School of Law in the patent law track.   In 2015, two law school students were honored: Phillip Blevins and Sarah Campbell.  Both recipients were the first from Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia.  Mr. Blevins will graduate this year and will be taking the bar exam this summer.  Ms. Campbell has worked hard independently to pay her way through law school. Both were very deserving candidates.       All donations to the scholarship fund are tax deductible and must be made out to "American Descendants of the House of Burgesses" and mailed to:   American Descendants of the House of Burgesses 4800 N. Harsdale Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302-2411