Josh Barkley Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is in honor of our late son, Josh Barkley. It is deeply meaningful to our families and us, reflecting the understanding and advocacy we came to recognize, after his passing, that might have shaped Josh’s academic and transitional journey had we, including Josh himself, better known how to navigate and advocate for his individualized academic needs within the public school system and as he transitioned beyond the classroom.
Josh was known for his love of football, his magnetic personality, and his gift of humor. He used laughter to connect with others and soften hardship. Beyond the classroom, he was resilient, creative, and a natural leader—qualities that did not always align with traditional academic measures. Over time, he came to believe he was not academically inclined, though his talents and potential were clear.
Like many students with learning differences, students are often supported through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). While this support may be in place, students and their families are not always shown how to track them, understand them, or actively participate in team meetings in ways that highlight individual strengths and learning styles. As a result, the process can feel overwhelming and unclear. Support exists, but learning how to access it, ask the right questions, and advocate for meaningful implementation is not intuitive. This is a common experience for many students and families navigating IEPs, 504 Plans, Student Assistance Plans (SAP), or Behavioral Intervention Plans (BIPs).
This scholarship is designed to honor Josh’s life while empowering students to advocate for themselves, recognize their strengths, and embrace their passions. By easing financial barriers and fostering advocacy, it supports students in pursuing educational or vocational paths that reflect their unique gifts. I hope each recipient uses this scholarship not only to bring to life the potential my son carried but also to fully recognize and pursue their own - moving forward - with confidence and creating a future that reflects their purpose, both inside the classroom and beyond its walls.
Any high school senior in Virginia may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they have a learning difference and are in a specialized learning plan. Preference will be given to students from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools.
To apply, respond to the essay prompt below. Multiple modalities can be used to address the prompt such as, slideshow, video, drawings and other creative ways to demonstrate task understanding. Submit your response by uploading a link, file, and/or writing in the essay response section. For a video submission, submit a link to your video as a public YouTube link or a Google Drive link. Settings should be set to "public" or "anyone with the link can view." If submitting by video link or file upload, please write "Submitted via link or file" in the essay prompt box.
Many students with learning differences receive support through an IEP, 504 Plan, SAP, or BIP, yet learning how to understand these plans and advocate for meaningful support is not always taught or intuitive.
Please share your story. In your essay, reflect on your experience navigating learning supports or advocating for yourself (or learning how to do so). How has this experience shaped your understanding of your strengths, learning style, or passions? Describe a moment when you recognized your ability to speak up for your needs—or a moment you wish you had—and how that experience influences your educational or vocational goals moving forward.
How do you hope to continue honoring your strengths and advocating for yourself as you pursue the path that best reflects who you are?
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FAQ
The application deadline is May 21, 2026. Winners will be announced on Jun 22, 2026.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jun 22, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.
