Bill Lontz had been a chemistry teacher at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg for 13 years. That means he had to have taught between 400 and 500 students over his tenure at the school.  That also meant he had to have impacted a lot of young scientific minds. His love of science and teaching is now being honored with a scholarship in his name here at The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River (CFRRR).

Bill recently died of brain cancer.  After the original diagnosis, Bill and his wife Betty decided to host a “living visitation” to celebrate his life and to give him a chance to see his family, friends, and many of his students.  The occasion was anything but solemn with lots of laughter and reminiscing. Bill was so busy talking to the more than 60 people who came to see him that he didn’t have a chance to read the speech he had written.

CFRRR, with the help of the Science Department at James Monroe, will award an annual scholarship to the student who best exemplifies a love of science and a desire to further their education in that field.  Initially, three (3) top students are selected and asked to complete a scholarship application. They are also asked to write an essay that explains how science has been a guiding force in their lives, and how they plan to continue their studies in the future. 

There could be no more fitting way to honor the life and career of Bill Lontz then by a scholarship that helps students pursue their love of science.