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2014 Scholarship Season 2014 Scholar Recognition Program Background • The Carson Scholars Fund was founded in 1994 by world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson and his wife, Candy. • The Carson Scholars Fund seeks to recognize and reward academic and humanitarian excellence. By the Numbers • To date, the Carson Scholars Fund has awarded 5,700 scholarships. • Carson Scholars have been named in all 50 states and Washington, DC. • Carson Scholar alumni attend (or have attended) nearly 450 different colleges and universities. • More than $3 million has been paid out in scholarship awards. Recognition Program • The Scholar Recognition program, in its current form, began in 2010. • Recognized scholars receive a pin, certificate, nameplate/trophy, and the opportunity to attend an awards banquet. There is no monetary award associated with recognition. • The Scholar Recognition program is growing rapidly. In its first year, there were 413 Recognized Scholars; last year, there were 715. Important Dates and Deadlines • Application Deadline • January 10, 2014: Deadline for all applications. • The online application must be completed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. • Hard copy applications must be postmarked by this date. • Mailed report cards must be postmarked by this date. • Principal Verification • January 17, 2014: Deadline to complete the principal verification. Check the events calendar at www.carsonscholars.org frequently for updates! For more information • http://carsonscholars.org/current-scholars • Check this site for additional information and answers to common questions. Application Process Create a Username and Password 2. General Information 3. Biographical Information 4. Report Card 5. Community Service 6. Extracurricular Activities 7. Photograph 8. Signatures and Review 9. Principal Verification 10. What’s next? 1. Create a Username and Password • Use your email as your username and create a password that is easy to remember. • Bookmark this page so you can come back and work on your application: http://carsonscholars.or g/recognitionapplication Main Menu • To work on the main part of your application, go to “create or edit application.” • This is also where you can print your application. Step 1 – Read the Rules! • Read all the rules carefully! • Have a parent/guardian or teacher read them too. • Take note of the deadlines. • Click “next” at the bottom of the page when you are ready to get started. Step 2 – Student Application Sheet • Whenever you click “next” at the bottom of the page, your application will save automatically. You can also click “save draft” at any point. • Tips: • Make sure you read the social security number agreement. • Dates should be entered dd/mm/yyyy • Phone numbers should be entered with no punctuation (for example: 4108281005) • Use your school’s full name • Be careful that everything is accurate! Whatever you enter here will go directly into our database – if you enter your address incorrectly, we won’t be able to find you! Step 3 – Biographical Information • This section helps us get to know you better. It is optional, but we encourage you to complete it. • Answers can be lists, but include details as needed to help explain what something is. (For example, if a club has a name unique to your school, explain what the club does.) • If you already have a document that lists all of your awards/recognitions, you can upload it. Step 4 – Report Card • Your report card can be uploaded as a PDF or JPEG OR mailed as a hard copy. • We are only looking for a current year report card. If that is just one quarter, that is fine. • The report card must include your name and your school name. • The report card is the only item that can be mailed separately if you are completing the online application. • If you mail a report card, it must be postmarked by January 10, 2014. Include a letter with the report card that says the rest of the application is online. Step 5 – Community Service • We are looking for community service beyond what is required for school • Elementary: This can mean something a student does with his/her family, staying after class to help a teacher, volunteering at church, participating in girl scouts or boy scouts, etc. • Middle: Activities should happen with some regularity and/or be a large event that requires some planning beforehand • High: Activities should reflect some leadership/organizational ability • Hours and dates can be estimated. • Make sure to point out unique accomplishments, leadership roles, etc. Sample - Elementary • Secretary of Gale-Bailey Elementary School Student Council • Sponsored “Angel Tree” families, providing holiday gifts to needy families • Mitten Tree, providing hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens to needy families • Gale-Bailey Elementary School Science Club • Learn about, clean up, and take care of the Chesapeake Bay • March of Dimes Read-a-Thon – gold and silver medalist • Cancer Society Relay-for-Life fundraisers • Toys-for-Tots fundraisers • Canned food drive fundraisers • Indian Head Soccer Association • Car wash and bake sale fundraisers Sample – Middle • Community • My family helped donate blankets and other items to local families who were having financial troubles. • I collected soda tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. • I have worked with a younger Cub Scout den to help plan their meetings. • Boy Scouts • I assisted the local fire department in their fundraiser by hanging information sheets on doors and cleaning. • I have assisted with a number of Eagle projects. • My troop is working on an on-going program to monitor the water quality of the Patuxent River (test water monthly). • School • I have participated in my school’s Harvest for the Hungry food drive. • My school sent Thank You cards to Troops on Veteran’s Day. • Church • In CCD, we made Christmas cards to send to troops in the Middle East. • We have made casseroles for a soup kitchen in Baltimore. Sample – High • Summer volunteering at the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire • • • • • Company, selling snowballs for fundraising drive. Administrative tasks for the Foreclosure Prevention Project of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (a non-profit which coordinates free legal services) Staff Assistant at the 20th Anniversary Gala of the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (helped with preparations and the event itself) As a member of the National Junior Honor Society, helping to organize a school-wide Pennies for Patients campaign for medical research Participating in charity drives, such as the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure Assisting in photographing and coordinating a firehouse charity event for a child with brain cancer Step 6 – Extracurricular Activities • You may write a list or a paragraph. • We are looking for extracurricular activities you are currently involved in and/or have been involved in over the past year. • Examples: debate club, church youth group, school soccer team, private clarinet lessons, etc. Step 7 – Picture • If you are able to upload a picture, please do so. • The picture is not required. • Only upload a clear, recent headshot. (Look at the samples!) • Photos are used at our awards banquets. Step 8 – Signatures and Review • Complete this section with your parent/guardian. • Make sure to review your application before submitting it. Once you submit it, you can’t make any changes. • We recommend you print a copy for your records. Step 9 – Principal Verification • On or around January 10, your principal will receive an email asking him/her to review and verify your application. • This is the online equivalent of having the principal sign a hard copy application. • Principals will have until January 17, 2014 at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to verify. • Applications without a principal verification will be disqualified. • Please make sure your principal knows you are applying for recognition this year Tips and Questions • Remember that all deadlines are final! Please plan accordingly for school holidays, weather, absences, etc.! • Make sure everyone (you and your principal especially) sets spam/junk mail settings to accept all emails from @carsonscholars.org and @wizehive.com. • Wizehive is the online application company we are working with and emails will come from wizehive.com on a regular basis. (Most likely [email protected].) • For more information, please contact Katie Damaroda, Scholarship Director, at 410.828.1005 or [email protected].