Champions for Children Scholarship

What is the Champions for Children Scholarship?
Champions for Children is the largest privately-funded scholarship program in Mississippi. The program offers mentors the opportunity to apply for scholarships as a reward for mentoring service. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors across the State of Mississippi who have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of young people through mentoring. A selection committee reviews all applications. The applicants with the highest overall scores are selected to receive scholarships. The award amounts are as follows:
· $5,000 scholarships
· $2,500 scholarships
· $2,000 scholarships
· $1,000 scholarships

What are the Criteria?
· Attend school & reside in Mississippi
· Be a High School Senior in the 2008-2009 school year
· Certify 100 hours or more of mentoring, starting June 1, 2008 (the summer before your senior year in high school). The mentoring must be completed by the high school graduation date
· Mentoring must be done on a volunteer basis. If you receive any monetary compensation for the mentoring, you are not eligible for this scholarship.
· Must continue your education at a 2 or 4 year US accredited institution.
· Must complete a 2009 champions for Children Scholarship Application form.
· Write an essay describing your mentoring experience (must be type-written).
· Submit four (4) letters of recommendation:
o Letter signed by the adult supervisor of the mentoring program(s) verifying the 100 hours. If you participate in more than one program, you must submit letters from each program supervisor. Your mentoring hours umt total at least 100. A parent or guardian cannot serve as the program supervisor.
o Letter signed by an adult character reference – parent, guardian or other relative cannot write the letter of recommendation
o Letter signed by the High School Principal of your school
o Letter signed by the High School Counselor of your school

What is the Deadline?
All applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2009. Send completed forms, postmarked no later than April 1, 2009, to:
Champions for Children, Inc.
Attn: champions for Children Scholarship
Post Office Box 3612
Jackson, MS 39207-3612

How will the Scholarship Money be Disbursed?
Champions for Children will recognize scholarship recipients at an awards luncheon in May 2009. Scholarships will be deposited into MACS or MPACT accounts. Scholarships will not be paid to individual recipients or institutions. If a scholarship recipients does not have a MACS or MPACT account, enrollment information will be provided by Champions for Children.