Regent University Receives Endowed Scholarship from the Beazley Foundation

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (June 4, 2024) – Regent University recently received a generous scholarship of $100,000 from the Beazley Foundation in honor of the late Judge Richard S. Bray, who died on May 4, 2024, at the age of 77.

Judge Bray embodied the spirit of a servant-leader. His judicial career spanned nearly 13 years with service on the Virginia Court of Appeals. Bray went on to serve as President and CEO of the Beazley Foundation for 19 years before retiring in 2021. However, Bray chose to extend his commitment to the Beazley Foundation by becoming its chairman of the board of trustees.

“Judge Richard Bray and his remarkable life of civic purpose inspired us all,” said Steve Best, President of The Beazley Foundation. “Judge Bray found immense satisfaction in being honorable and useful in the lives and success of others. Through the Judge Richard S. Bray Scholarship Endowment, we hope to inspire the next generation to continue his work of service beyond self.”

Over the years, the Beazley Foundation and Judge Bray have bestowed grants on Regent University that have had a lasting impact. More than $680,000 in grants from the Beazley Foundation have improved the curriculum and offered life-changing scholarships to students at Regent University.

“We are humbled and honored by this remarkable gift from the Beazley Foundation,” said Gordon Robertson, Chancellor of Regent University. “This scholarship is a testament to the profound and enduring legacy of Judge Richard S. Bray, who left an indelible mark on the world. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Beazley Foundation for their extraordinary support and partnership with Regent University in changing the world through educational excellence.”

The purpose of the Judge Richard S. Bray Scholarship Endowment is to assist graduate students enrolled in the School of Law, with preference given to students with a 3.5 GPA or above. Financial needs may also be considered. 

The application cycle for this scholarship is set to open in spring 2025, in preparation for the 2025-26 school year. Email invitations will be sent to students who qualify for consideration.

Gracious Relationship History

The Beazley Foundation was created by the late Fred W. Beazley in 1948. Beazley, a Portsmouth native and entrepreneur, focused his philanthropy on giving back to the Hampton Roads community. Today, his privately endowed foundation manages $60 million in assets and has touched the lives of millions in Hampton Roads.

The late Dr. M.G. “Pat” Robertson, founder of Regent University, enjoyed a special relationship with Beazley, who was his father’s close friend. In the early 1960s, as Robertson worked to get his broadcast ministry off the ground, Beazley provided him with a stipend of $100 per week and allowed his family to live in a house on the campus of Frederick College.

About Regent University

Founded in 1977, Regent University is America’s premier Christian university, with more than 13,000 students studying on its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and online around the world. The university offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in more than 150 areas of study, including business, communication and the arts, counseling, cybersecurity, divinity, education, government, law, leadership, nursing, healthcare, and psychology. Regent University has been ranked the #1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the #1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021), and the #1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for 12 years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2024).

###