Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Beta Theta Zeta Chapter
SENATOR YVONNE B. MILLER
Walking in Her Footsteps Scholarship

Senator Yvonne Bond Miller made headlines as the first African American woman to be elected to the Commonwealth of Virginia House of Delegates in 1983 – serving two terms from 1984–88. In 1987, she ran and was elected to her first four-year term in the Senate of Virginia. As the first African-American woman in Virginia to serve in each house, she was consistently re-elected to 5th State Senate District until her death on July 3, 2012. At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving woman in the Virginia Senate, ranking 4th in overall Senatorial seniority where she gained a seat on the budget-writing Finance Committee and later became the first woman to chair a Senate committee, gaining the chair of the Transportation Committee.

Senator Miller believed that women have special talents as problem-solvers and negotiators that make them good leaders. She encouraged all women to exercise their political rights by running for office or supporting female candidates.
Born on July 4, 1934, as Yvonne Bond in Edenton, North Carolina to John T. and Pency C. Bond, Senator Miller was the eldest child of thirteen children. She was raised in Norfolk and attended local public schools.

Senator Miller attended the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College (now Norfolk State University) for two years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1956 from the Virginia State College. While in college, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Upon graduating from Virginia State, Senator Miller became an active financial member of Beta Theta Zeta Chapter in Norfolk, VA. Senator Miller later earned a Master of Arts degree from the Teachers College (Columbia University) in 1962 and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973.

A career educator, Senator Miller began teaching at Young's Park Elementary School in Norfolk Public Schools. She later became a faculty member at Norfolk State University as a professor and department head of the Early Childhood/Elementary Education where she retired as Professor Emeritus in 1999.

Beta Theta Zeta Chapter honors the legacy of Senator Yvonne B. Miller by awarding the Walking in Her Footsteps Scholarship to deserving young ladies in Hampton Roads.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. – Beta Theta Zeta Chapter
SENATOR YVONNE B. MILLER
Walking in Her Footsteps Scholarship

SECTION I – QUALIFICATIONS
1. Must be a female high school senior, in the following cities (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Va Beach, or Suffolk).
2. Must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher.
3. Must matriculate to a four-year institution in the fall semester of the application year.
NOTE: The scholarship award will be paid directly to the four-year institution. If the applicant does not attend a four-year institution in the fall semester immediately following the scholarship awarding, the scholarship awarded will be forfeited. 

SECTION II – PERSONAL STATEMENT
Submit a personal statement, which includes goals, accomplishments, community involvement, and reasons why you should be considered for this scholarship.

SECTION III - ESSAY TOPIC & GUIDELINES

Topic:

Write an original essay answering the following question:   Define environmental justice and explain how it relates to the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Provide two specific examples of communities affected by environmental injustices and discuss the implications for policy reform.

How do you plan to contribute to these efforts in your future career or community involvement?

Guidelines:

The essay must be 500-750 words, type-written, double-spaced with 1-inch margins using 12-pt Times Roman font. Include a title page with the essay topic title, applicant’s name, and name of high school. 
Sources cited in the essay must be listed on a “Reference” page - avoid plagiarism.

SECTION IV – LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Three (3) one-page letters of recommendation are required. All letters must be dated with a current date.

Provide letters from the following:

• One (1) letter from a community service organization or other institution (not a relative) describing your community involvement. Community involvement must be of a voluntary nature (cannot be compensated) and must have been completed within the past two years.
• One letter from a high school/college official, on official school letterhead, regarding your performance in school and extra-curricular activities.
• One (1) character reference letter from someone other than a relative.

SECTION V -- VOLUNTEER DOCUMENTATION

Provide documentation of volunteer work: Minimum 25 hours. The documentation should be on letterhead from the organization with whom the volunteering occurred.

Volunteering activities include but are not limited to the following: Food Bank, Candy Striper, Girl Scouts, church work, mentoring, coaching, volunteering with organizations, etc.  

SECTION VI – UNOFFICIAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT
Transcripts must include the courses for the current semester and all cumulative grades and uploaded to the application.

Guidance Counselor's Information (if applicable):

I hereby certify that all the information provided in this application is accurate and current. I understand this application packet will be kept confidential and all materials submitted become the property of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. - Beta Theta Zeta Chapter. All application materials are subject to verification. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Plagiarism will result in disqualification.

ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED AND AUXILIARIES

PHOTO RELEASE FORM 

 

Chapter/Auxiliary Name: Beta Theta Zeta Chapter
Norfolk, Virginia 23501 

Sen. Yvonne B. Miller: Walking in Her Footsteps Scholarship Award 

In consideration of my participation in the activity described above, I agree to this Photo Release Form. I grant Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (the “Sorority”), and its volunteers, employees, agents, representatives, and licensees permission to copy, edit, publish and otherwise use my name, image and likeness, with or without my name, including for marketing purposes or for any other lawful purpose, in any publication and in any medium, including, by way of example and not limitation, posting a photo of me from the activity on a social media web site, (collectively, “Reproduction”) without further consideration. I assign to the Sorority all right, title, and interest in and to all such Reproductions as well as the unencumbered right to exercise such rights in all media and by any means now known or hereafter created, throughout the world, in perpetuity.

I hereby hold harmless and release and forever discharge the Sorority and its volunteers, employees, agents, representatives, and licensees, from all claims, demands, and causes of action which I or the undersigned or any respective heirs, executors, administrators or assigns have or may have resulting by reason of this Photo Release Form.

I HAVE READ THIS PHOTO RELEASE FORM BEFORE SIGNING BELOW AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS, MEANING, AND IMPACT OF THIS PHOTO RELEASE FORM:

If the person signing is under age 18, there must be consent by a parent or guardian, as follows:

I hereby certify that I am a parent or guardian of the above named student, and hereby agree to the foregoing on behalf of this person.