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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 '