Last month I received an email from the writer Ayelet Waldman (author of Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace and Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, a novel. (Not because we’re friends or acquaintances, but I signed up to be included on her email list, as maybe her writerly talent would rub off on me?!)
The email was a fundraising pitch called “Send Eddie to College.” As part of a San Francisco Bay Area organization called ScholarMatch.org, Ayelet asked for donations to provide a college scholarship for a student from Oakland, CA. Part of the fundraising drive entailed preordering her upcoming book, Red Hook Road, on Amazon and she would personally donate $10 per book. Great idea, and generous, too.
Another reason I thought this was a great idea was because I ALREADY HAD THE IDEA MYSELF. In fact, I had started my scholarship for a high school student (and son of a co-worker), also named Eddie, from San Jose, CA.
My scholarship is a little different in that it is designed for the student to get accepted to college in the first place. Here’s the program I designed:
Presents the 2010 College Prep Scholarship to
Eddie R.
The goal of this monetary scholarship is to assist the recipient in gaining admission to a quality college.
Acceptance to college is based on several factors: high school academic record, SAT score, college application essay, letters of recommendation, and extra-curricular activities. This scholarship consists of activities that will address each of these areas.
The length of the scholarship will last approximately one summer (2010).
This is an “earn-as-you-go” scholarship. Here’s how it works. There are three principals involved:
- The Scholarship Recipient: Eddie R.
- The Scholarship Administrator: (Eddie’s father)
- The Scholarship Benefactor: Toni Buckley Dockter
Except for the SAT prep, each activity will consist of reading, writing, or researching—or a combination of the three. Each activity is like a homework assignment, except there is also assigned a monetary value to complete the assignment. The monetary values will range from $25 to $100 per assignment (depending on the complexity of the task). A check in the dollar amount will accompany each assignment.
There are NO right or wrong answers to the assignments. The assignments are designed to improve critical thinking, verbal, and writing skills. The SAT prep will include math problems. In most cases there are no immediate due dates. The Recipient can take as long or as little as he likes to complete the work—up until the end of the scholarship period.
The Administrator will receive the assignments and checks from the Benefactor. He will then give each task to the Recipient (Eddie). When the assignment is completed, Eddie will give his written work to the Administrator. The Administrator will give Eddie the check and give the Benefactor the written work.
Recipient is NOT required to do any assignments. At the end of the scholarship period, any uncompleted assignments and checks are to be returned to the Benefactor.
During the scholarship period the Benefactor will compile all completed assignments and may make suggestions or create new assignments based what was received. At the end of the scholarship period, the Benefactor will evaluate Recipient’s work for completeness, quality of work, and effort.
BONUS #1: Each individual assignment is also eligible for additional monetary value if the work done demonstrates a high level of excellence.
BONUS #2: If ALL assignments are completed with a high level of excellence, additional bonuses will be awarded as follows:
1. FWE Publishing will reimburse the Recipient for the cost of PSAT and SAT tests.
2. FWE Publishing will reimburse Recipient for 6 college application fees.
Except for the first two assignments, all others will be handed out when the school year ends. There will be approximately 15 assignments (possibly more). Any books given to the Recipient to be used for the assignments are his to keep. The Recipient is allowed to use any resources at his disposal to complete any of the assignments. The Recipient is also free to call or email the Benefactor with questions or to ask help with completing the assignments.
There was a signature page to accept the FWE College Prep Scholarship to be signed by all three principals. I also included the first two assignments (along with checks). Here’s the first one:
Assignment #1: Counselor Interview
Purpose: To let your counselor know you are serious about going to college and to obtain guidance from him/her on how to achieve this goal.
Before school ends, make an appointment with your school counselor. Inform him/her of your desire to attend a 4-year college or university. Examples of questions to ask him/her:
1. Is your GPA good enough to get into a UC school?
2. For the remaining two years, are there any particular classes you need to take or particular subjects you need to improve upon academically?
3. What other steps should you to take to ensure your acceptance?
4. What is the success rate for students from your high school getting accepted to a 4-year college?
5. Is there an SAT study group program at your school?
6. When and where is the next PSAT? How do you sign up?
7. Does he/she have information regarding scholarships or other financial aid offered by organizations in the San Jose area?
Written assignment: Write a report about the interview. What did you learn? What steps are you going to follow that the counselor suggested? Did the counselor make any suggestions that didn’t make sense that you are not going to follow?
The reason I started this program was not because I have spare time and spare money. (My fledgling sideline company, FWE Publishing, is not profitable.) Originally Eddie’s father asked me if the small environmental company we worked for (my day job) could hire his son for the summer. That wasn’t possible (for reasons like money, skills, work availability, training issues, etc.). I told Eddie’s father that what Eddie needed instead of extra cash in his pocket was a college acceptance letter. The answer isn’t a part-time job. The answer is an education. “My Eddie” is a bright kid. He has the ability. He needs the focus.
But unlike Ayelet’s Eddie, who wants to go to college, I don’t think “my Eddie” really does. He lacks the motivation. I think it’s because he’s had no real parental influence up until now telling him about the value of a college education. Up until now there has never been parental expectation that Eddie go to college.
I was turned down for my scholarship program. Eddie’s father told me that he wants to play football this summer.
This week I received another email from Ayelet. The fundraising activity for scholarmatch.org was a huge success. Her Eddie received the tuition money he needs to attend college! YEAH! Good luck to both Eddies.
