Reston Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia Reston Scholarship Fund
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South Lakes students · Reston’s future

Scholarships open doors. Career support helps students walk through them.

RSF helps high-achieving South Lakes graduates attend NOVA or GMU—and build the skills, networks and experience needed to launch meaningful careers.

Application Portal Review eligibility See Career Accelerator

Create an account or log in. RSF applications are due April 25, 2027.

A student standing before an open, light-filled door
One community · Two pathways NOVA + GMU

Financial support, a mentor, and career-building opportunities from day one.

Skills · relationships · experience
100scholarships awarded
10scholars planned each year
$20,000maximum scholarship
NOVA + GMUtwo equally valued pathways
About RSF

Potential should never be limited by a family’s finances.

RSF began with a simple Reston conviction: students who have worked hard and earned their opportunity should have the support to pursue it.

Today, RSF pairs renewable college scholarships with mentors, professional networks, career readiness and real-world experience—helping scholars move from education to meaningful work.

Founded in Reston 2016 A fund of CFNOVA since 2017
Our founding story

A Reston response to a widening opportunity gap.

In 2016, longtime Reston residents Liz and Gil Blankespoor met a family working five jobs between two parents and still unable to afford college for their daughter. That conversation made the cost of opportunity impossible to ignore—and inspired them to create the Reston Scholarship Fund.

Today, RSF works with South Lakes High School, NOVA, GMU, community volunteers and donors to help scholars afford college and build the career capital needed to thrive after graduation.

Scholarships

Two pathways. Equal promise.

For graduating South Lakes seniors who will attend NOVA or GMU in the fall after graduation. See the eligibility requirements below.

01Northern Virginia Community College
NOVA

A strong start with room to transfer.

Begin at NOVA, build academic momentum and prepare for a seamless transition to a four-year institution—including GMU.

NOVA pathwayFlexible · Affordable · Transfer-ready
02GMU
GMU

Stay close to home while thinking big.

Pursue a four-year degree at GMU with renewable financial support and the same complete RSF Career Launch experience.

GMU pathwayLocal · Ambitious · Career-connected
South Lakes graduating senior SAI ≤ 7,500 (from FAFSA) Minimum 2.5 GPA NOVA or GMU the following fall
Application Portal → Create an account or log in. RSF applications are due April 25, 2027. Ask a question
RSF Career Accelerator

A scholarship helps pay for college. Career capital helps turn college into opportunity.

Financial capital + social capital + human capital = the confidence, connections and evidence scholars need to launch careers.

View all Year 1 awards & access grants → Download the Career Accelerator application →
A graduate facing pathways toward experience, certifications, internships and other career-building milestones
Career capitalThe journey doesn’t end at graduation.
01

Scholarships & Awards

Financial support for college and optional career-building progress.

02

Mentors & Connectors

Steady guidance plus targeted insight from people in the field.

03

Career Readiness

Professional presence, communication, interviews and workplace skills.

04

Real-World Experience

Internships, research, projects, job shadowing and career exploration.

05

Alumni & Community

A lifelong network that keeps opening doors for the scholars who follow.

A student developing technical skills with guidance from a professional
Build human capitalCareer readiness
Students speaking with an employer at a career fair
Apply career capitalReal-world experiences
A mentor working side by side with a student
Mentors & Career Connectors

One steady guide. A community of professional insight.

Mentors build long-term relationships. Career Connectors offer focused industry knowledge, introductions, informational interviews, résumé feedback and job-shadow opportunities.

Volunteer with RSF →

Career Accelerator · Achievement Awards

Recognition for career-building accomplishments.

Achievement Awards recognize optional career-building accomplishments that help scholars gain skills, experience and evidence of their readiness.

Certifications Internships Research Projects Informational interviews Job shadowing
Scholar Voices

Two journeys. One community opening doors.

Meet a current RSF scholar preparing for a cybersecurity career and an RSF alumna helping the next generation thrive in her classroom.

Farhan Roshan, RSF scholar Current RSF scholar
Current scholar

GMU · Information Technology · Cybersecurity

Preparing to protect the digital world.

“I am a first-generation college student in my family. RSF has played an important role in my journey by providing financial support, encouragement, and opportunities that have helped me continue my education and prepare for my career.”

Farhan plans to pursue a master’s degree in Digital Forensics and hopes to use his education to strengthen digital security, investigate cybercrime, and help protect people and organizations from cyber threats.

Farhan Roshan
Brenda Yanes, RSF alumna and elementary school teacher
RSF alumna

NOVA → GMU → Elementary School Teacher

“The Reston Scholarship Fund helped make my higher education journey possible. As a first-generation college student, I started at Northern Virginia Community College before transferring to GMU to earn my degree.”

Today, I have completed my third year as a 2nd grade teacher and was recently honored as the Outstanding New Teacher at my elementary school. I am incredibly grateful to RSF for helping launch my career and showing me that no dream is too big. I hope my story inspires future students to pursue their own goals with confidence.

Brenda Yanes
Dual Enrollment · A distinct RSF initiative

College credit should be within reach.

RSF provides tuition assistance for qualified South Lakes seniors enrolled in James Madison University dual enrollment courses offered at SLHS. This initiative is separate from RSF’s college scholarships and Career Launch program.

Support Dual Enrollment →
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