Norfolk Southern celebrates the achievements of railroaders' children by awarding over 100 scholarships

ATLANTA, June 16, 2025 — The Norfolk Southern (NYSE​: NSC) 2025 Thoroughbred Scholars program has awarded 100 scholarships of up to $10,000 over four years, along with three scholarships of up to $40,000 over four years. Recipients are high school seniors and college students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and community engagement.

“Building a better future begins with empowering the next generation,” said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George. “Celebrating the achievements of our railroaders and their families is one of the most special parts of being a Thoroughbred, and we are excited for all recipients in their journey through higher education.”

The three prestigious scholarships went to students who distinguished themselves in the following areas:

• STEM Scholar: Chandler Hoffman, child of Christian Hoffman, Mingo Junction, Ohio, attending Carnegie Mellon University, pursuing a degree in civil engineering.
• HBCU Scholar: Zion Fennell, child of Ben Fennell, Bluffton, S.C., attending Howard University, pursuing a degree in psychology.
• Community Scholar: Maggie Purgason, child of Christopher Purgason, Morristown, Tennessee, attending East Tennessee State University, pursuing a degree in communications studies.
  
  

Since launching in 2022, the Thoroughbred Scholars program has awarded $4.48 million in scholarships across its 22-state network.

Scholarships Awarded to Each State in 2025

To learn more about the Thoroughbred Scholars program, visit https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/norfolksouthern/.

About Norfolk Southern  

Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a 22-state freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.