Paul D. Camp Community College students Bonnie Newsome and Wanda Olden were two of 57 students representing Virginia’s 23 community colleges who were honored recently at the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education 2014 Scholarship Luncheon in Richmond.

Olden, of Suffolk, is the recipient of the Valley Proteins Fellowship. She is a participant in the Students Transitioning through Education Programs Successfully program and is a PDCCC Presidential Student Ambassador. She serves as vice president of the PDCCC Literary Club.

Additionally, Olden was selected to represent the college at the Virginia General Assembly and the VCCS Student Leadership Conference. She is a volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps, the United Way of South Hampton Roads and is a literacy tutor with the Suffolk Literacy Council. When she graduates with an associate degree in business management in 2015, she will be the first in three generations of her family to graduate. She plans to gain employment in business as a manager or director in the social behavior field.

Newsome, a Sedley resident, is the recipient of the Smithfield Foods Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship. While at Southampton High School, she maintained an average of 3.16 while taking classes that included a dual enrollment biology course, two years of art classes, an online economics and personal finance course, and electronics. In addition, she completed the high school’s Early Childhood Education Program. She has been a member of numerous clubs/organizations, such as the National Honor Society, the Student Government Association, the Key Club and Varsity Club. Newsome works at a local restaurant, as well as volunteers for Surry Volunteer Fire Department. She plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

The keynote speaker for the luncheon was Shawn Boyer, founder and chairman of the board of Snagajob. “Throw the word, ‘failure,’ out of your vocabulary,” he told the students. “You are going to make lots of errors. Don’t let that start affecting your psyche.”

The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education distributed more than $350,000 in scholarships this year.

The Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship Program, with 25 recipients this year, was established in 2006 through the generosity of longtime partners Wells Fargo and Dominion. The scholarships recognize students from across the state who have demonstrated academic excellence during high school as well as a commitment to developing leadership skills. Each scholarship bears the name of one of many philanthropy leaders who support Virginia’s community colleges.

The Valley Proteins Fellowship is awarded to only 10 students from the almost 300,000 students that Virginia’s Community Colleges serve across the commonwealth. Its estimated value is $15,000. In addition to receiving full coverage of tuition and fees, the fellows participate in a unique curriculum that includes leadership programs, cultural opportunities and a community service project.

Nineteen scholars received additional scholarships in honor of special philanthropists and friends who further the mission of Virginia’s Community Colleges, and 13 students were honored as participants in two prestigious Fellows Programs: Valley Protein Fellows and Potomac Health Foundation Fellows.