Bus Scholarship Program

The Virginia Holocaust Museum is committed to expanding access to Holocaust education for students across the Commonwealth by reducing transportation barriers that prevent schools from participating in Museum field trips.

Through the Bus Scholarship Program, the Museum provides financial assistance to eligible schools to help offset charter bus transportation costs associated with student visits to the Museum. Funding is designed to support schools that face the greatest geographic and financial barriers to participation, particularly those located in communities where distance and transportation expenses limit access to Holocaust education opportunities.

Scholarship Priorities

Priority will be given to schools and school divisions that:

• Are located in geographically distant regions of Virginia, including western, southwestern, southside, Eastern Shore, and Northern Neck communities.
• Have limited access to Holocaust education resources and Museum programming.
• Demonstrate financial need or transportation costs that create a barrier to participation.
• Represent school divisions or communities that have not previously participated in Museum field trips.

Eligibility Requirements

Schools applying for bus assistance must:

• Be a Virginia middle or high school group visiting the Virginia Holocaust Museum for an educational field trip.
• Have a confirmed Museum visit scheduled prior to applying.
• Submit a completed Bus Scholarship Application.
• Provide documentation of transportation costs, including an itemized estimate or invoice from the transportation provider.

Funding Information

Bus scholarships may provide partial support toward eligible charter bus transportation expenses. Award amounts will be based on available funding, demonstrated need, transportation costs, and the goal of expanding access to students who would otherwise be unable to participate.

Schools may combine Museum bus scholarship funding with other available funding sources, including school division funds, grants, and community support.

Submission of an application does not guarantee the award of Bus Scholarship funding. All requests are reviewed based on eligibility criteria, program priorities, demonstrated need, available funding, and the goal of expanding access to Museum field trips for students across the Commonwealth.

Application Process

1. Schedule your Virginia Holocaust Museum field trip through the Museum's tour request process.
2. Obtain a transportation estimate from your bus provider.
3. Submit the Bus Scholarship Application.
4. Applications will be reviewed based on program priorities and available funding.
5. Selected schools will receive notification of award decisions.

After the Visit

Upon completion of the Museum field trip, schools must submit required transportation documentation before reimbursement or payment of approved scholarship funds can be processed.

Questions

For questions, please contact Director of Education Megan Ferenczy, at mferenczy@vaholocaust.org.

Bus Scholarship Funders

Our scholarship program is made possible through the generous support of the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Foundation, the Barbara and Fred Kort Foundation and the Windsor Foundation Trust.