2014 Scholarship Season

1. 2014 Scholarship Season 2014 Scholar Recognition Program

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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!

6. For more information • http://carsonscholars.org/current-scholars • Check this site for additional information and answers to common questions.

7. Application Process • Create a Username and Password • General Information • Biographical Information • Report Card • Community Service • Extracurricular Activities • Photograph • Signatures and Review • Principal Verification • What’s next?

8. 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.org/recognition-application

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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!

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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 recognitionthis year

22. 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 workflow@wizehive.com.) • For more information, please contact Katie Damaroda, Scholarship Director, at 410.828.1005 or katie@carsonscholars.org.