HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/02/2018 10 AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship AvailabilityITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
1
Item No. 10.
For Meeting of: January 2, 2018
AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship Availability
Randy Beehler, Communications & Public Affairs Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The City of Yakima is encouraging area high school seniors to apply for a $1200 scholarship
being offered by the Association of Washington Cities ("AWC"). The AWC 2018 Center for
Quality Communities Scholarship will be awarded to six high school seniors in spring 2018.
The AWC Center for Quality Communities promotes municipal leadership and civic
engagement. The Center, which is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, helps community
members understand the important role their cities and towns play in Washington State. The
AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship supports high school students who are
actively engaged in their community and/or city government.
Application packets can be downloaded from the City of Yakima website front page at
yakimawa.gov.
Each city and town in Washington State is eligible to nominate one local scholarship applicant
whose application is then forwarded to the AWC office in Olympia. A committee formed by the
AWC then makes the final decision about which six applicants from throughout the state will
receive scholarships. Under the criteria that the City of Yakima established, the AWC scholarship
is open to high school seniors living in the Yakima School District and West Valley School
District. For more information about the AWC scholarship process, contact City of Yakima
Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler by phone (901-1142) or by e-mail
(randy.beehler@yakimawa.gov).
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
City Manager
NA
NA
2
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
AWC Center for Quality unities Scholarship
O 12/18/2017 Cover Memo
Availability - Memorandum
O Application Instructions 12'18/2017 Cover Memo
O City of Yakima Criteria -Process 12'18/2017 Cor Memo
O Scholarship Information 12/18/2017 Cover Memo
O Scholarship Application Form 12/18/2017 Cover Memo
O Release and sent Form 12/18/2017 Cover Memo
3
[DDM0
RA
DDD[D
To: City Manager Cliff Moore
From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler
Subject: 2018 AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
Date: Thursday, December 28th, 2017
Mr. Moore,
For the second year in a row, the City of Yakima is proud to be participating in the Association of
Washington Cities ("AWC") Center for Quality Communities Scholarship program. Each of the 281
cities and towns in Washington State is eligible to nominate one local scholarship finalist whose
application will then be forwarded to the AWC office in Olympia. The City opened its local
application period in early December.
Local applications for the AWC 2018 Center for Quality Communities Scholarship must be received
at Yakima City Hall by 5:00 pm on Friday, February 161h, 2018. The name and application of the
City of Yakima's finalist will be provided to the AWC on or before March gth, 2018.
In the spring of 2018, six high school seniors from throughout Washington State will be awarded
$1,200 AWC 2018 Center for Quality Communities scholarships. The official presentation of the
scholarships will be made during the AWC's 2018 annual conference, which will take place in
Yakima in late June.
Each participating city or town is allowed to design its own local scholarship application and review
process. Under criteria established by the City, high school seniors living within the Yakima School
District and the West Valley School District are eligible to apply. Local applications will be reviewed
by a committee consisting of City Council members and City staff. As mentioned above, the
application of the finalist selected by the City of Yakima will then be forwarded to Olympia and be
further evaluated by a separate committee formed by the AWC.
Last year the City received 21 applications for the AWC Center for Quality Communities
Scholarship. It is expected the City will receive a greater number of applications this year. Posts
about the scholarship on City social media platforms have received a great deal of interest. Stories
about the scholarship have also appeared in the City of Yakima's December 2017 Issues Brief e -
Newsletter and on a recent edition of the City's CityCast news magazine. Additionally, two local
television stations have featured stories about the scholarship on their newscasts and the Yakima
Herald -Republic published an article about the scholarship in mid-December.
Attached are the various elements of the application packet that is available on the City of Yakima
website front page, including explanation of the scholarship criteria and process, an application
form, etc.
The City is excited to again be participating the AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
program and is confident that the local nominee selected will fare well in the finalist evaluation stage
of the process.
Please let me know if you would like any additional information regarding this issue.
4
Association of Washington Cities
2018 Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
Application Instructions
The City of Yakima will nominate one local candidate for the Association of Washington
Cities ("AWC") 2018 Center for Quality Communities Scholarship. The $1,200
scholarship is awarded each year to six students who are residents of Washington State
and who have been actively engaged with their communities and/or city government.
Please read all of the information contained in this packet carefully and complete the
scholarship application form and other requirements. To be considered, applications
must be received by the City of Yakima as per its Criteria/Process (enclosed) no later
than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16th, 2018.
If you have any questions or need more information about the City of Yakima's
Criteria/Process for the AWC 2018 Center for Quality Communities Scholarship, contact
the City's Communications & Public Affairs Director, Randy Beehler, by phone (509-
901-1142) or e-mail (randv.beehler(c vakimawa.gov).
Application Packet Checklist
- Completed application form
- One letter of recommendation from a non -relative
- Personal essay
* Completed scholarship application packets should be sent or
delivered no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16th to:
Randy Beehler
Communications & Public Affairs Director
City of Yakima, Wa.
129 N. 2nd Street
Yakima, Wa. 98901
5
Association of Washington Cities
2017 Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
City of Yakima
Criteria/Process
Eligibility
- Open to students in the Yakima School District and West Valley School District who:
- Will graduate from high school, complete home school, or receive a GED in
spring/summer 2018
- Are currently or have been involved in significant school/community leadership
activities and/or city government
- Plan to continue their education in the 2018-2019 academic year at an accredited
college, community college, or trade school on a half-time or more basis
- Are residents of Washington State
City of Yakima Process
- Scholarship application packets will be due by 5:00 pm on Friday, February 16th, 2018
- Scholarship application packets must include:
- Completed AWC 2018 Quality Communities Scholarship application form
- Completed personal essay (limit two pages, Arial or Times New Roman 12 -point font,
double-spaced) addressing the essay subject as described in #11 of the application
form
- One letter of recommendation from a non -relative
- Scholarship application packets should be sent to:
Randy Beehler
Communications & Public Affairs Director
City of Yakima, Wa.
129 N. 2nd Street
Yakima, Wa. 98901
- Scholarship applications packets will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored by a committee
consisting of City of Yakima elected officials and staff.
* The City of Yakima committee will select one applicant whose application packet
will be forwarded to the AWC Center for Quality Communities along with a letter
of support from the City no later than March 9th, 2017. The applicant selected by
the committee will be contacted by the City no later than March 5th, 2018.
6
Promotion of the Scholarship Application Availability
- The City will promote the availability of the AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
application:
- By providing counselors at Eisenhower High School, Davis High School, Stanton
Academy, Yakima Online, and West Valley High School with scholarship information
and application packets
- Under the "Point of Interest" section on the front page of the City's website
- On the mid-January "CityCast" news and information program
- In the January City of Yakima Issues Brief e -Newsletter
- On the official City of Yakima Facebook page
- On the official City of Yakima Twitter feed
* To learn more about the 2018 AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship,
contact City of Yakima Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler by
phone (509-901-1142) or by e-mail (randy.beehler@yakimawa.gov).
AWC Center for Quality Communities
Scholarship
choUarsh"p ,nfo~ma4^on
7
Background
AWC Center for Quality Communities promotes municipal leadership development and civic engagement. The Center's goal is to
help citizens understand the important role their cities and towns play in Washington.The Center is a 501(c)(3) organization.
The Center believes in educating student leaders who care about their communities. The Center for Quality Communities
Scholarship supports senior high school students who are actively engaged with their community and/or city government and
want to pursue post -secondary education. The scholarship fund is supported by people who are passionate about cultivating
Washington's future Iocal leaders.
Scholarships -,�x"��n����xxU��s
S�$1,20Oschobr'ipswill beawarded tohigh school students who plan to pursue a post -secondary degree in fall 2018.
Scholarship funds will be sent directly to the institution. Funds can be used for education expenses and will be deposited directly
into a student account.
Timeframe
00e
Washington's 281 cities and towns begin recruiting scholarship applicants in fall 2018. Each participating city must forward the
completed application form of one nominee to the AWC Center for Quality Communities by March 9, 2018. Scholarship winners
will be notified by May 2018.
Student eligibility & instructions
Stude�sinter -~incom' competing fort eCenerfor{3ua|by
Communities schoarship fund must be:
• Invorved (or have been involved) with a city government
and/or signiflcant school Ieadership activity;
Eligible to graduate from high school, complete home
school or receive a GED in spring/summer 2018;
• A Washington state resident; and
PIan to continue education in the 2018-2019 academic year
at an accredited college, community coHege or trade school
on a haif-time or more basis.
Process
Complete Quality Communities scholarship application
form
• Complete the persona essay.
• Submit one letter of recommendation from a non -relative
(can include a community eader, high school teacher,
administrator or counselor).
^
Submit scholarship appkcation to city for consideration.
City instructions���U«���'��k�
& selection
One nominee per aty/town wiU be considered for the Center
for Quahty Communities schoarship fund.
Cities are asked to:
Decide how you want to choose one ocal nominee
(competitive procesopen to the community, competitive
process open to active city volunteers, recruit through Iocal
schools, etc.). You may limit applicants to city residents.
Publicize the scholarship.
^
Collect Iocally completed application forms.
• Write a Ietter of support for your nominee.
Submit one application form and Ietter of support by
March 9, 2018 to:
Center for Quality Communities Scholarship
1076 Franklin St SE
Olympia, W0k98501-1346
44
14
AWC
Center for Quality Communities
2018 scholarship application
Please type or print. Illegible or incomplete applications will be returned.
First name: Last name:
12'
Mailing address
Steet/P.C\Box:
City: State: Zip:
111 Current high school:
Best phone number to reach you: Email:If home schooled, pl
If GED, pease indicate date received:
Have you been accepted into an accredited post -secondary program or
coUege for the faU of 2018 as ofthis submission?
lfyes, please provide institution name(s):
Number of years attended
DYes O
If not, please indicate the name ofthe institution(s) you plan to attend:
Proof of student enrollment from the school is required prior to the release of funds.
Career goal (please be specific):
Name and address of parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
Name(s):
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Continue application on back.
Please describe your financial need. Include any financial aid you will receive and/or any circumstances that would
help the committee understand your financial situation.
List your city, community and civic involvement activities. (No additional materials will be accepted)
List your school involvement and academic honors and awards. (No additional materials will be accepted)
Personal essay
On a separate piece of paper please write a concise response to the following question. Please submit your answer in
Arial or Times New Roman 12 point font, double-space, and limit the length to two pages.
A sign of a good leader is being able to guide yourself and others through both good and challenging times, demonstrating
high standards of responsibility, and showing commitment to community. Tell a story about a significant community
responsibility you assumed or were given. How did this experience help you grow as a leader? How did the project impact
others? What did you gain?
Applicant checklist (send completed application packet to city for consideration):
❑ Completed application including essay
❑ Letter of recommendation - From a non -relative
This is separate from the recommendation letter from the city
❑ Completed and signed release form
Note:
Must be in good academic standing
Must plan to graduate spring/summer 2018
Statement of accuracy
I hereby affirm that all the above stated information provided by me is true and correct to the best of my knowledge:
I also consent that my picture may be taken and used for any purpose deemed necessary to promote the Center's
scholarship program.
I hereby understand that if chosen as a scholarship winner, I must provide evidence of enrollment/registration at an
accredited post -secondary institution of my choice before scholarship funds can be awarded.
Signature of scholarship applicant: Date:
Submit scholarship application to city for consideration.
AWC Center for Quality Communities
Release
eUease ad consent for use
of nameimage/photo
and U��a��e/&~
��K�oUo
10
The purpose of this form is to requespermission to use your photo/image and name n our scholarship program
materials, website, and/or social media as part of the AWC Center for Quality Communities.
I grant permission for me/my child's photo/image and name to be used in connection with the AWC Center for
Quality Communities' scholarship program materials, website, and/or social media, including any and all uses of
video and any portraits, still pictures, or other photographic reproductions and sound recordings in which I/my
child may be portrayed.
Nothing herein shall constitute any obligation on the part of the AWC Center for Quality Communities to make
any use of any of the materials or rights granted.
I hereby grant permission and execute this release as of the date and year below.
Signature Signature of parent or guardian
(required for minors under 18 years of age)
Printed name Relationship to minor
Date
If you or a parent or guardian wish to rescind this agreement and remove your child's information or photo,
you may do so at any time in writing by sending a letter to the AWC Center for Quality Communities and such
rescission will take effect upon receipt by the Communications department.
If you have questions, contact Karen Tanner at karent@awcnet.org or 1-800-562-8981.
*-,,-.*nu
[iTiES
'