William N. (Billy) Hill Scholarship

Purpose

The purpose of The William N. (Billy) Hill Scholarship is to provide an annual award to one scholarship applicant. The scholarship fund will be sent directly to the attending university or college for the sole purpose of paying college expenses. The current value of the scholarship is $1,000.

Teacher, Coach, Counselor, Principal, Administrator

William N. “Billy” Hill was born and raised in Suffolk, VA. He attended Suffolk Public Schools and is a graduate of Suffolk High School. Billy attended Old Dominion College and received his Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Health and Physical Education and a minor in Biology. He later completed his Master’s in Education degree in Secondary Administration and Supervision as well as his Certificate in Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership and Instruction at Old Dominion University.

Billy’s teaching career included teaching science and physical education at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School; teaching health, physical education, driver’s education, and social studies at Suffolk High School; teaching and directing adult education classes, serving as guidance counselor at Suffolk High School and Booker T. Washington Jr. High School; serving as assistant principal at Suffolk High School and Booker T. Washington Jr. High/Intermediate School; and serving as principal of Booker T. Washington Jr. High/Intermediate School, Suffolk High School, and Lakeland High School. He also was Coordinator of Middle and Secondary Schools for the Suffolk Public Schools. Billy coached Junior Varsity Basketball and Football, was assistant coach for Varsity Football and Basketball, and was head coach for Track and Golf. After his retirement, he worked part-time as an educational consultant for the Virginia State Department of Education as a site coordinator for the High Schools That Work program.

Billy has been active in his church, Main Street United Methodist Church, serving in many leadership positions and currently as chairperson of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee. Some community memberships have been in the Suffolk Rotary Club, the Suffolk Jaycees, the Suffolk Lions Club, Suffolk Tennis Association, Suffolk Youth Athletic Association, the Suffolk Library Board, the Salvation Army Board, and various professional organizations. Billy also was elected to serve on the Suffolk School Board from 2002 until 2006. Coaching recreational youth basketball and soccer was important to him as well, being named “Sportsman of the Year” by the Suffolk Sports Club because of his involvement in sports in Suffolk.

Billy worked part-time as the Interim Executive Director of the Obici Healthcare Foundation from its inception until February of 2007, after assisting the newly-hired executive director to become acclimated to his position. In May of 2007, Billy was asked to work part-time as the Executive Director of the newly-formed Suffolk Foundation. Billy worked as the sole employee of the Suffolk Foundation until his retirement in 2015, with the Suffolk Foundation having assets over $5.5 million. Billy is particularly proud of the scholarships which have been awarded to students and have continued to increase in number.

Billy and his wife, Pam, have been married more than 50 years and have two children. Nathan and his wife Kelly have two children, Cameron and Carson, and live in Kill Devil Hills, NC; Laura Wrighte and husband Mark have two children, Kyle and Sydney, and live in South Riding, VA. Billy and Pam now split their time between Suffolk and Kill Devil Hills, NC, and remain active in their community.

Application, Deadline, and Submission Instructions

The William N. (Billy) Hill Scholarship utilizes the Suffolk Foundation’s common scholarship application form, which opens online on February 3, 2025. The application must be submitted online before the deadline of 5:00 pm, March 21, 2025. For more information, contact the Foundation staff at office@suffolkfoundation.org or by calling 757-923-9090.

Awardees

2024: Brenda Holloman, Lakeland High School
2023: Alisa Chandler, Nansemond River High School
2022: Abigail Lockhart, Nansemond River High School
2020: Lauren Biando, Nansemond River High School
2019: Allison Thompson, Lakeland High School
2018: Skylar Old, Nansemond River High School
2017: Megan Grass, Nansemond River High School
2016: Ariel Salerno, Lakeland High School

Award Criteria

To be eligible to receive the William N. (Billy) Hill Scholarship, each scholarship applicant must, at the time of the award:

  • Be a resident of the City of Suffolk.
  • Be a senior in one of Suffolk, VA’s public high schools
  • Declare their intention to pursue a college degree in education.
  • Be involved in either school or community activities, or provide verification of employment.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Application Procedure

  • Submit a completed online application form with an official high school transcript.
  • Submit two reference letters from administrators, counselors, teachers, and/or other school personnel.

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