The Virginia War Memorial has announced the 2026 student recipients of its Admiral John Marocchi Memorial Scholarships. Receiving $2,500 college scholarships each are:
- Aiden James Hess, a graduating senior at the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Va. who will attend Virginia Tech this fall and participate in the U.S. Army ROTC program.
- Abigail Hope Mox, a graduating senior at Mecklenburg High School in Baskerville, Va. and who will attend Virginia Military Institute and participate in the U.S. Army ROTC program.
Virginia War Memorial Director Dr. Clay Mountcastle announced the scholarship winners during the 70th annual Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony held Monday, May 25 at the Memorial in Richmond. He was joined at the ceremony by keynote speaker Governor Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Timothy Williams, and Major General James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.
“Educating our young people is one of the key missions of the Virginia War Memorial and joining with the Virginia War Memorial Foundation in awarding these annual scholarships is always a highlight of our Commonwealth’s Memorial Day Ceremony,” said Dr. Mountcastle. Both represent the best and brightest Virginia students and have chosen to serve our Commonwealth and Nation as members of the U.S. Army ROTC programs at their respective universities. We salute them as they truly deserve our admiration and respect,” said Dr. Mountcastle.
The Marocchi Memorial Scholarships were established in 2015 in memory of the late Rear Admiral John Marocchi of Rappahannock County, Va. by his family and other donors and are administered by the nonprofit Virginia War Memorial Foundation.
Admiral Marocchi served with distinction in the United States Navy for decades in a career that spanned World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of the Purple Heart, Legion of Merit and was one of the few Navy officers to complete Army Airborne training. He was also a member of the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees for over fifteen years.
The Marocchi Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually by the Virginia War Memorial. Students enrolled in the senior class of an accredited public or private high school or home school program in the Commonwealth of Virginia and who are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application may apply.
Applicants must also plan to pursue a program of study in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program at a Virginia public or private university. Applicants must also possess an unweighted minimum Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of 2.75.
Applications for the 2027 Marocchi Memorial Scholarships will open in March of 2027.
Complete details, including application forms and a list of required documents, will be available online at https://vawarmemorial.org/learn/contests-scholarships/ or by contacting Lizzie Oglesby, Virginia War Memorial Education Outreach and Programs Manager at elizabeth.oglesby@dvs.virginia.gov.
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates four long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries; and operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
About the Virginia War Memorial
The mission of the Virginia War Memorial is to Honor Veterans, Preserve History, Educate Youth, and Inspire Patriotism in All. Dedicated in 1956, the Memorial includes the names of the nearly 12,000 Virginia heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism. The Virginia War Memorial is and will always be the Commonwealth’s tribute to those who served and most especially, to those who died defending our freedoms.
The Virginia War Memorial is a division of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and serves as an integral part of its mission in support of all Virginians who have served in our military. It is located at 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220 and is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free, except for select events. For more information, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org.