After Forte's death, Thompson recalls, faculty members who knew her held a memorial luncheon for her. With the $200 left over, they started the Leslie V. Forte Scholarship.
Wistar Withers, an associate professor and counselor and another friend of Forte's, served with her on the college's affirmative action team. He says Forte's memory inspired them to start the scholarship because she was a perfect role model for minority students.
"We wanted to honor a respected member of our faculty," he says.
According to Withers, the scholarship fund has been kept alive over the years by Northern Virginia faculty and staff who hold annual walk-a-thons, luncheons and silent auctions.
"People have donated everything from A to Z for the auctions--kitchen appliances, water pitchers, books. I still have a coffee pot I bought one year," he says.
"Leslie was a very outgoing and committed person," he adds. "Since she herself was a community college graduate, I think she would be pleased to know we were doing this in her name."
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