Ward Family Scholarship Honors Rochester Couple’s Legacy of Education and Community Service

The family of the late Jerome and Gloria Ward is continuing the Rochester couple’s longstanding commitment to education, community service and opportunity through the 2026 Jerome & Gloria Ward College Scholarship.

The annual scholarship will provide two $500 awards to graduating high school seniors entering college as freshmen this fall. Applicants will be considered on factors including academic achievement, financial need, character, leadership and community service.

The scholarship carries forward a legacy deeply rooted in Rochester’s Black community.

Jerome and Gloria Ward both valued higher education and earned college degrees themselves. They later established Jerome E. Ward Realty, one of Rochester’s early Black-owned real estate businesses. Through the company, the Wards helped families navigate the home-buying process and achieve homeownership.

Gloria Ward also worked for many years at Rochester City Hall as a home assessor, helping residents better understand the value of their properties. Beyond her professional career, she devoted considerable time to civic and community organizations.

Among her most enduring contributions was helping establish the Metropolitan Women’s Network Section in Rochester, an affiliate of the National Council of Negro Women. Ward was among three women who traveled to New York City to obtain information and materials needed to organize the Rochester section, which was chartered in 1980.

The National Council of Negro Women was founded in 1935 by educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. The Rochester Metropolitan Women’s Network has continued its work for more than four decades, focusing on service and advocacy for young people and families.

That legacy has also continued through the next generation. Ward's daughter, Karen Ward-Wilder, is serving as president of the Metropolitan Women’s Network Section for the 2024-2026 term.

The Wards' community involvement extended into numerous areas of Rochester life. Jerome Ward was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and an avid golfer who belonged to golf organizations, including the Manhattan Golf Club. Golf provided both recreation and opportunities to develop friendships and professional relationships. Gloria Ward was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and an enthusiastic tennis player who devoted time to Tennis Players Without Partners.

Faith and church service were equally important to the couple. Jerome and Gloria Ward were longtime members of New Life Fellowship Church in Rochester, where they served in several ministries under the leadership of the late Rev. Reginald McGill and former pastor Rev. Bernard McNeil. Their involvement included couples ministry, youth activities and other areas of church service.

The scholarship grew from the same emphasis on young people, education and community advancement that characterized much of the Wards' lives.

Scholarships had previously been awarded under the name Gloria Avis Ward College Scholarship. Following the death of Jerome Ward Sr., the family expanded the program to honor both parents, creating what is now the Jerome & Gloria Ward College Scholarship.

“In loving memory of Jerome and Gloria Ward, their family has established two annual college scholarships to carry forward a lifetime devoted to family, faith, and community,” the scholarship materials state. The awards are supported by lead gifts from the couple's children and grandchildren.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5, demonstrate financial need and show positive character and participation in extracurricular or community-service activities. Students must be entering their freshman year and have acceptance into a degree program for the fall semester. Selection also considers the quality of the applicant's essay and recommendations, leadership experience and completion of all required application materials.

The application includes a 250-word personal essay addressing such areas as career goals, reasons for pursuing higher education, leadership, employment, community or church service, accomplishments, challenges and financial hardship. Applicants must also provide two letters of recommendation and academic transcripts.

The deadline to submit a completed application is Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. Applications may be submitted electronically, and the two recipients are scheduled to be notified by Monday, Sept. 28.

Students interested in applying can obtain the complete 2026 Jerome & Gloria Ward College Scholarship application packet by emailing JeromeGloriaCScholarship@gmail.com. The packet includes the application, eligibility requirements, essay instructions, recommendation forms and submission checklist.

Through the annual awards, the Ward family hopes to ensure that Jerome and Gloria Ward's commitment to education does more than preserve their memory — it helps another generation of young people take their next step toward college, service and opportunity.