Ashby Ponds Celebrates Student Scholars Class of 2019

Ashburn, Virginia—Ashby Ponds honored the 27-member Student Scholars Class of 2019 during its Annual Award Ceremony on May 20.  The employees, members of the Dining Services Department, earned four-year collegiate scholarships in the amount of $7,000.

More than $134,000 was raised during the 2019 campaign, funded primarily through resident contributions and pledges, according to Elisabeth Longworth, Philanthropy Manager for the Erickson Living retirement community.  Since the inception of the Ashby Ponds Scholars' Fund in 2009, 117 students have been awarded a scholarship.

"We are proud that this year represents our largest class of scholars ever," stated Mrs. Longworth.  "They attend eight different high schools in Loudoun and Fairfax Counties and will enroll in a variety of colleges in Virginia and the mid-Atlantic.  Unfailingly cheerful and hard-working, they make dining in our community's restaurants a daily pleasure.  The scholarships are our way of showing that we not only care about them, but also their futures."

Mrs. Longworth notes that "we achieved our objective of increasing the amount of the awarded scholarships this year.  We would like to thank our residents for their generous spirit in making this worthwhile goal a reality."

A resident-comprised Philanthropy Committee provided valuable guidance and support for the   fundraising campaign conducted during the spring.  The highlight was the Scholars Variety Show held on April 30 and May 1 that featured student performances.  In front of a full audience in the community's Great Oaks Performing Arts Theater, they sang, danced, recited poetry and played musical instruments.

To be eligible for a scholarship, dining services students must work 1,000+ hours in their junior and senior years and be an employee in good standing, maintain a minimum 2.0 grade point average, submit an essay about their Ashby Ponds experience, receive recommendations from a manager and an outside source (non-family member or non-affiliation with Ashby Ponds) and participate in the variety show and awards ceremony.

For more information about the scholarship program, as well as other benefits of employment with Ashby Ponds such as tuition reimbursement, please call 703-723-1999 or visit https://jobs.ericksonliving.com.

About Ashby Ponds: Ashby Ponds, one of 20 continuing care retirement communities developed and managed by Erickson Living®, is situated on a scenic 132-acre campus in Ashburn, Virginia.  The not-for-profit community of more than 1,475 residents and 550 employees is governed by its own board of directors, affiliated with National Senior Campuses, who provide independent financial and operational oversight of Ashby Ponds.  Additional information can be found at AshbyPonds.com.