Dr. Donald W. Bentley Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Criteria

Student from North Carolina, with preference given to students from Watauga County, who are planning to study at the undergraduate or graduate level Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, VA. The scholarship will be awarded to students who exhibit the following: academic excellence, leadership, personal effort and good citizenship. Financial need will be considered as a criterion if there are equally matched applicants, with the students with greater need being awarded the scholarship in that case. Scholarships for undergraduate study are awarded annually to graduating high school seniors; Scholarships for graduate study shall be awarded to any entering or existing graduate student.

About Dr. Donald W. Bentley

Dr. Donald W. Bentley was a Watauga County native and lifelong educator who died in 2005. Born in 1935, Bentley attended Blowing Rock School and Appalachian State University. He was a member of the US Air Force, and earned his doctorate in education at Virginia Tech. 

During his career, he served as principal of both Blowing Rock School and Watauga High School, assistant superintendent of Watauga County Schools and superintendent of the Cherokee County School System.

The scholarship was established by Dr. Bentley’s spouse, Audrey Bentley. Mrs. Bentley died in 2019, and her wishes were to honor her husband’s high regard for and loyalty to Virginia Tech.