May Family Foundation Fellowship Challenge

Boost the impact of your gift while helping recruit top talent for Virginia Tech Engineering

Join the May Family Foundation Fellowship Challenge

The May Family Foundation Fellowship Challenge was established to accelerate the creation of endowed graduate fellowships across the College of Engineering. With donor support, these fellowships strengthen Virginia Tech’s research enterprise and help recruit and retain talented graduate students. The May family, whose multi‑generation Hokie legacy includes decades of philanthropy, has long been committed to advancing student access, experiential learning, and academic excellence.

Why graduate fellowships are important

• Fellowships make it possible to recruit and support top graduate students by providing the financial backing needed to attract talented scholars and help them succeed.
• Fellowships strengthen research and innovation because graduate students play a central role in advancing discoveries, contributing ideas, and helping solve real-world problems.
• They remove financial stress so students can focus on their work — allowing them to fully engage in research and mentorship opportunities that shape their development.

What makes the May Family Foundation Fellowship Challenge unique

• Rather than the typical $250,000 required to endow, donors make a $200,000 pledge over five years — a 20 percent savings.
• The May Family's $1 million commitment provides the additional $50,000 toward each endowment.
• To award funds immediately, $10,000 of the donors’ first pledge payment is allocated toward current-use funds.
• The donors receive recognition for their choice of a named graduate fellowship endowed fund from day one.

If you’d like to learn more about the May Family Foundation Fellowship Challenge or graduate student fellowships in the College of Engineering, please contact Assistant Dean of Advancement Jeremy Weaver at jww18@vt.edu or 540-235-6708.

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