Julie Dalton, principal of Victoria Elementary School, won a raffle from the Lunenburg Republicans Scholarship program.

The prize was a Henry Mare’s Leg rifle.

“The money raised in this event goes solely for scholarships to students in Lunenburg County and not in any way to support any political candidate,” a release from the Lunenburg Republicans cited. “The money raised in 2018 will be given as two $1,000 scholarships in the spring of 2019.”

This program, which started in 2012, has given Lunenburg students approximately $10,000 to continue their education, the release cited.

“So far winners of the scholarship include Vayda Parrish in 2013, Brandi Newcomb in 2014, Mattie Ann Buchanan in 2015, Ben Marshall in 2016, Brittany Dolan and Jonathan Clark in 2017, and Jessica Kimbell and Nate Nowlin in 2018,” the release cited. “These students have gone on to attend schools like The College of William & Mary, Jefferson College, James Madison University, George Mason University, the University of Mary Washington, Radford University,” and various community colleges.

“Each year the selection committee looks at grades, school activities, and community involvement when reviewing the applications,” the release cited. “Each candidate writes an essay and sits for an interview by the committee before the winner is announced. To qualify for the scholarship the student has to live in Lunenburg County and will be attending a college or university in the state of Virginia. The process is very competitive. The scholarships are not limited to students who are just graduating from high school but also for students who are already in college.”

Mike Hankins, Chair of the Lunenburg Republicans, said in the release that “I am very proud of all of the students who have won the scholarship so far. Each one is a great example of the kind of people who live in Lunenburg and each will have a lot to offer the communities where they live as a college graduate.”

Henry Repeating Arms, a gun manufacturing company, was cited in the release to have been big supporters of the program with discounts on the prizes for the scholarships.

“Without the great people who sale the tickets and those who make the donations, none of this could happen,” Hankins said.

Applications for the scholarships for 2019 is expected to be available by March. The winners of the 2019 scholarship will be announced in the spring of 2019. Plans are being made now to continue this program in 2020.