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.