Scholarship Fund
A scholarship fund in Patrick’s memory was established following the 1st Annual Pat’s Q during the summer of 2008. The Northern Piedmont Community Foundation (NPCF) manages the fund. Their mission is to build philanthropic capital to enhance and preserve the quality of life in the Piedmont region which includes Fauquier, Culpeper, Madison, and Rappahannock Counties and strengthen the region’s nonprofit organizations.
The Foundation helps meet the charitable needs of the Piedmont region. NPCF is dedicated to building a community of givers who provide a permanent source of money available for investments in nonprofit organizations throughout the region. In addition, NPCF funds projects that are innovative and meet the changing needs of the community.
NPCF will fund a total of three (3) James Madison University Memorial Scholarships in Patrick’s name for one deserving senior attending Fauquier High School, Liberty High School, and Kettle Run High School. These senior students must have been accepted and committed to attending JMU (Pat’s alma mater – Class of 2007) in the fall semester to be eligible for the scholarship. NPCF has an executive committee that chooses the recipient based on the criteria established by the Gay family. Patrick, a hard-working honor student, was an extremely kind and caring young man who cherished his many friendships. The scholarship recipients must give two detailed examples of ways they demonstrated compassion towards another individual or family during their years in high school. In an effort to honor Patrick’s memory, the Gay family decided on this essay question so the chosen recipients were those who displayed Pat’s character of kindness and compassion.
A student’s G.P.A. and S.A.T. scores must be high to be accepted into JMU as it is extremely competitive. All of the student applicants applying for this scholarship are at or toward the top of their class academically.