Commentary; Posted: 12/3/03

Now more than ever, scholarships are needed

Don Heinzman

If youíre wondering what your community can give your high school seniors for Christmas, how about a post-high school scholarship. Most communities have some kind of organization that raises money, identifies applicants and awards the much-needed scholarship.

In Forest Lake, for example, the Community Scholarship Foundation has been laboring for more than 25 years with grants to deserving high school seniors and community citizens who need help in furthering their education.

Some, however, have no such organization or the organization needs a revamping and expansion, when tuitions in most colleges and universities are having double digit increases.

Consider a Dollars for Scholars organization in your community, because it has a proven track record.

In Minnesota last year, 135 Dollars for Scholars chapters distributed $2.3 million that went to 3778 students. Minnesota is one of the leading states with chapters raising this kind of money in the country. Since 1962 in Minnesota, $21,909,338 in scholarships have gone to 44,442 students.

Some of these chapters in Minnesota are in Braham, Cambridge-Isanti, Eagan, Milaca, Apple Valley, Rush City and Princeton.

Nationally, 1170 grassroots scholarship chapters in 40 states and the District of Columbia awarded $24.8 million in scholarships to 31,054 students.

Starting a chapter is simple. Just go to the organizationís website at www.scholarshipamerica.org. Find the ìDollars for Scholarsî link, and then go to ìHow to Start a Chapter.î

For starters, organize a planning committee consisting of a strong group of leaders representing a cross section of the community. Complete the forms to affiliate with the Dollars for Scholars, which is a part of Scholarship America. Elect chapter leadership, adopt bylaws and get materials from the regional office.

The regional office in Minnesota is directed by Valerie McKullough who can be reached at 952-835-7680. McKullough can help get a club started and offers workshops to make the local community program work.

Bill Nelsen, national president of Scholarship America, which is based in St. Peter, MN, emphasizes that this is a local community, grass roots scholarship program, requiring $150 a year to help support the regional and national offices. These regional and national offices must get their own funding from other sources.

The website has 100 different fund-raising ideas. One of the best is a local solicitation by high school students who will benefit most from the scholarships. Students also send out the pledge forms and help with the clerking.

By now, itís evident that students planning to go to college will need all the help they can get. Having a local Dollars for Scholars organization is a great community asset. If you donít have a chapter, start one, or support the local programs that are now in place.

It will be the best gift you can give to your youth.

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