Ridley Scholars

The Walter Ridley Scholarship Fund was founded in 1987 and has benefited over 250 students by awarding approximately 20 scholarships to African American students each year. It honors Dr. Walter N. Ridley who became The University's first African American graduate in 1953. It attracts the most talented African American students in the nation.

2009 Ridley Scholarship Dinner and Speaker

The UVaClub of Richmond held the 2009 Walter Ridley Scholarship Dinner on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the Omni Hotel. This event continued to be a model of success for scholarship efforts across the country.

Our speaker for the event was Sharon Y. Bowen, a University of Virginia graduate who is now a partner in the New York office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm's Corporate Department where she represents corporations, private equity firms, financial and institutional clients on a broad range of corporate, finance and securities transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, strategic alliances, securities offerings, corporate restructurings, distressed debt and asset acquisitions and venture capital financings.

Ms. Bowen is the Co-Chair of Latham & Watkins' Diversity Committee and Chair of the firm's Diversity Hiring Subcommittee of the Recruiting Committee. In these twin roles, Ms. Bowen has helped guide the firm's diversity initiatives since the inception of their Diversity Committee. Her commitment to diversity and to the community has been widely acknowledged.  See more about Ms. Bowen on the Lantham & Watkins website.

UVaClub of Richmond's $200,000 Challenge

The Richmond UVa Club has a unique challenge issued by a good friend of The University, a leading Richmond businessman and local philanthropist. This donor will match every gift up to $200,000 DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR for the Richmond Walter Ridley Scholarship in honor of his schoolmate and friend - Clarence B. Cain. Through the Clarence B Cain Challenge (CBC Challenge), our Club and the recently formed Clarence B. Cain Steering Committee will raise $200,000 and we will receive an additional $200,000 to permanently endow local scholarships to send Richmond area African American student to UVa in honor of Cain.

Clarence B. Cain attended The University during a tumultuous time in the early 1970s when very few African Americans attended UVa. Cain, an African American, was born in 1952 in Newport News, Virginia as one of ten children. From these humble beginnings, Cain was called to serve others.

Cain served as the Co-Director of the Summer Preparatory Program (SPP) for five years during from 1971 until 1976 while earning BA and JD degrees at The University. The Summer Preparatory Program, which no longer exists, was created to help ease students into the rigorous academic life of UVa. In addition, Cain was one of the first African American Resident Advisors and Senior RA. Through the summer program and his impact in residential life truly hundreds of students of all races gained the academic tools and life skills to survive and flourish in the challenging environment of UVa in the 1970s.

Cain led by example and served as a mentor long before the word mentor became popular. Black, whites, minorities and women students looked to Cain for guidance while at the University of Virginia. This was a time that few African Americans were able to attend. Based in part on Cain's dedication during those difficult years, our University thankfully now has the highest percentage of graduating African Americans in the country.

Cain was believed to have been tapped as the first African American IMP.  This group is one of UVa's most prominent and philanthropic secret societies. Cain lived on the Lawn and was very involved as a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, which has always been recognized for its community service.

Cain passed away in 1990, yet his legacy continues through the people he inspired and through this CBC challenge. Cain is still challenging all of us to reach further, to excel in all areas of life, and to help others. There is no better way of recognizing this trailblazer than sending well deserving African American students to attend UVa.

The Club's Ridley Scholarship Committee has raised over $120,000 over the past four years towards this scholarship, which all goes to Richmond area youth attending UVa. This marvelous gift and CBC Challenge will take our Ridley Scholarship efforts to much higher level of service to future UVa Alumni.

Are you up to the CBC Challenge? Watch the UVaClub of Richmond website at www.richmondhoos.com for more details on the Annual Walter Ridley Scholarship Dinner.  For Corporate Sponsorship information, or if you would like to join the Ridley Committee or assist with the fundraising dinner contact Alex Taylor, the UVaClub Ridley Committee Chair, at 646-3500 or Alexander.Taylor@richmondgov.com.