Financing the cost of higher education is a major barrier that has kept qualified and deserving students from low socio-economic backgrounds from attending college.

To meet this challenge, James Madison University has developed a new program to lower this barrier for qualified under-represented students who would not be able to enroll at a four-year institution for financial reasons.

The Centennial Scholars Program (CSP) was established in March 2004. The program is rooted in JMU's commitment to serving the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia in a fair and equitable manner.

JMU also acknowledges the importance to our nation that minorities and other under-represented segments of the population pursue higher education.

The program provides a financial aid package that covers the full billable cost to attend JMU in the form of grants. These funds cover tuition, fees, room and board for a maximum of four years for freshman, and two years for transfer students and graduate students.

Accomplishments

The past few years the Centennial Scholars Program has been recognized for its dedication to college seeking students by providing academic and financial assistance.

Newspapers and magazines have acknowledged that we are helping the future leaders of tommorrow. The Centennial Scholars website will publish these articles to encourage all students who seek assistance in attending James Madison University.

The following links hold copies of previous news on the CSP program and outstanding CSP students. We hope this will help you realize what CSP can do for you.

• CSP Graduate Mentors featured in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Madison. Pictured Lamar Walker, Jr. and Justin Harris.
• Sergio Yabeta featured in the Daily News Record article, "Blazing A New Trail"
• Jacob Mayiani Loorimirim, CSP Alum, featured in The Breeze article: Student Creates Board Game, Helps Ease Famine and Drought in Kenya
• Freshman writer, Wayne, Epps, Jr., featured article in The Breeze
• Tempest Carter, CSP Student, featured in The Breeze, article: Generating Success: First-generation college students adjust to JMU; staff member dedicates book to help them
• CSP Student, Nandi Alexander writes for Urbino Now, travel magazine of the Le Marche region in Italy
• Meet the Player, CSP Soccer Midfielder, Josh Grant, by Contributing Writer/CSP Student, Wayne Epps, Jr.
• Richard Aguilar, CSP student, featured in Charlottesville Weekly article "Immigration Policy Divides Families, Enforces Contradictions"
  
• President-Elect, Jonathan R. Alger, DNR Article, " New JMU Head Eyes Diversity".
• Dr. Rose photo with CSP Students, "A Madison community, so genuinely aligned".
• Dale Robins-Bailey, CSP Soccer Student-Athlete, From Loss to Leadership
• CSP Alum,Ashley Mitchell, named "2011 Teacher of the Year by the Richmond Alternative School of Richmond Public Schools
• Boyd Reid, National Society of High School Scholars' Recipient
• JMU Theatre Students Score at Kennedy Center Festival
• The Sound of Success
• Seniors Make Theatric Impression
• Taylor Ransome, CSP Alum, Tackles First Teaching Job
• Students Gain from Parallel Relationship
• Centennial Program Makes the Grade
• Joel Singh Raises Cultural Awareness
• Chiquita King Wins DEAP Award
• CSP Students are ACHS Graduates
• CSP Graduate Promotes the Program