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Introducing 2014 Dollars for Scholars National Award Winners

Nationwide, Scholarship America Dollars for Scholars affiliates display inspiring and poignant ways that they  strengthen their communities, one student at a time. This year’s national award winners are no exception, demonstrating unwavering support of local students and championing the spirit of Dollars for Scholars in their communities.

We’re thrilled to announce the following 2014 Dollars for Scholars national award winners. Each winner receives a $2,000 award for their organization in addition to regional and national recognition. These exceptional affiliates and volunteers embolden all of us to continue serving our students -- for our communities and for our future. Congratulations!

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2014 Irving A. Fradkin National Affiliate of the Year
Marblehead Dollars for Scholars (Marblehead, MA)

With an established and distinguished reputation in the Marblehead area, Marblehead Dollars for Scholars is the 2014 Irving A. Fradkin National Affiliate of the Year. This affiliate exhibits excellence in board engagemNational_Affiliate_of_the_Year_2014_Marbleheadent -- an impressive feat, with a board comprised of more than 30 individuals, including a student director who mobilizes classmates to support the affiliate’s activities. Marblehead Dollars for Scholars is also noted for the size and availability of its scholarship awards for students, which includes a very labor-intensive customization process to students’ financial aid packages. The process has garnered the affiliate recognition, from providing expertise on a fundraising panel at a 2013 Dollars for Scholars regional conference to receiving praise from financial aid experts about the affiliate's close work with scholarship recipients.

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2014 H. Stuart and Marlys C. Johnson National New Affiliate of the Year
Note: This year, we are pleased to announce two affiliates as National New Affiliate of the Year.

Brushton-Moira Dollars for Scholars (Brushton-Moira, NY)

In April 2011, several members of the Brushton-Moira Community decided to revive the former BrushtoNational_New_Affiliate_of_the_Year_2014_Brushton-Moira_resizedn-Moira Scholarship Fund and created Brushton-Moira Dollars for Scholars. Just three years later, the affiliate has distributed nearly $100,000 in scholarships. The quick ascent to give back to the community is even more remarkable given that the small, rural community’s typical graduating class is about 60 students. The generosity of former members of the Scholarship Fund, local educators and community members, as well as creative fundraising efforts, demonstrate the strong support and potential that the organization has to make a difference for students. Brushton-Moira Dollars for Scholars is also recognized as a frontrunner in ChapterNet implementation, serving as a resource hub for other affiliates. For their many accomplishments, Brushton-Moira Dollars for Scholars is a 2014 H. Stuart and Marlys C. Johnson National New Affiliate of the Year.
National_New_Affiliate_of_the_Year_2014_Hope_High

Hope High Dollars for Scholars (Providence, RI)

Hope High Dollars for Scholars’ status as a preeminent source for college readiness and scholarship programs in the community continues at a fast pace and makes the affiliate a 2014 H. Stuart and Marlys C. Johnson National New Affiliate of the Year. The affiliate is “three years young,” but that hasn’t stopped a motivated group whose engagement has proven successful because of their ties as Hope High School alumni, a school that serves a diverse, urban population of students. Each year has resulted in increasing scholarship amounts and recipients due to proactive networking, mailings, fundraisers and partnerships. The affiliate’s motivation and rigor to pay it forward for students has resulted in a respect and regard in the community to continue for years to come.

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2014 Ralph “Cy” Seifert National Volunteer of the Year
Carol Baker, Oneonta Dollars for Scholars (Oneonta, New York)

Carol Baker, former three-term president and current board member of Oneonta Dollars for Scholars, isNational_Volutneer_of_the_Year_2014_Oneonta the 2014 Ralph “Cy” Seifert National Volunteer of the Year. It was Carol’s initial contact with Scholarship America that led to Oneonta Dollars for Scholars’ formation 23 years ago. Since then, Carol’s leadership, mentoring and involvement with the organization has led to key media and education partnerships in the community; successful fundraising events and awards ceremony; and growth in scholarship opportunities. In everything, Carol's presence is inextricably connected to the affiliate's success.

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To learn more about each national winner and to view their full nominations, click here to visit the Affiliate Recognition and Grant Programs section of ChapterNet!

Affiliate News You Can Use

Dollars for Scholars Surveys: Results Are In. You responded, and we heard. Thanks to volunteers, parents, counselors and students across the country, we reached more respondents than ever before. Thank you! Your input has been valuable to us. We’re working on sharing survey results with you throughout the year; keep your eye on inTouch, as well as other special communications, in the coming months.


Dollars for Scholars Affiliate Conferences: Webpage Live! Planning is in full force for this year's "Expanding Your Reach" conferences, and we're ready to share the conference page with you! Click here to visit the Dollars for Scholars 2014-15 Affiliate Conference webpage. This page will be updated with event details, registration links and more. We'll also continue to update you here, in inTouch. See you soon!

Amy_Ronnkvist
Ask Our Volunteer Expert: What Makes a Good Volunteer?

By Amy Ronnkvist, Affiliate Services Specialist, Scholarship America

As I read through all of the nominations for the Volunteer of the Year award, I was struck by the similarity of statements made by the nominators. Here are four of the common traits shared by the nominees:

Has a passion for mission and sets to accomplish it: This group of exemplary people cares deeply about the mission of their affiliate and wants to see it succeed. They bring enthusiasm and a positive energy that motivates the people with whom they work.

Embraces change: Each of the volunteers faced some sort of difficulty, whether a new requirement, technology implementation or the need for more volunteers or donors. They were willing to learn and took on the challenge.

Most importantly, they never gave up on their mission.

Always looks for the next opportunity to strengthen their affiliate: Volunteers viewed their everyday interactions and experiences as opportunities to talk about their work and to figure out new ways to draw the community into their affiliate. A conversation at a grocery store becomes a potential donor or volunteer.

Pays attention to the little things: While some of the nominees had big gestures, such as taking on new technology changes or drawing in an influential donor, most nominees were recognized for the small contributions they made that, over time, had a huge impact on the affiliate.

Results from our recent Benefits & Value survey mirror these traits. When we asked affiliates what skills are needed to be a successful volunteer, the top skills included:

  • organizational skills,
  • willingness to learn,
  • passion about mission,
  • ability to influence others and
  • having networks.

All of us can learn from each of these volunteers and their work with Dollars for Scholars. We’re excited to share more of their stories in upcoming inTouch issues!

Ask an Expert is a way for you to get answers from Amy Ronnkvist and the Dollars for Scholars team at Scholarship America. Please email aronnkvist@scholarshipamerica.org, and Amy will do her best to respond!

paul_germscheid_intouchAsk Our Technology Expert: Compiling Recipient Lists

By Paul Germscheid, Affiliate Support Services Manager, Scholarship America

Dollars for Scholars is a network of local community organizations bound by a common mission to help local students reduce barriers to college completion and, specifically, to help students complete their programs with a minimum level of debt.

To be a true network, we must be sure to share what works and to share our results. "What works" is shared through fall conferences, and results have always been shared through the annual submission of recipient lists.

We are currently in the process of collecting recipient information by reviewing the Awards Management section of ChapterNet, and your affiliate should be, too. The online system has a recipient list built into it that is a required part of affiliation.

For your affiliate, please verify:

  1. That every scholarship award recipient is listed under Awards Management with their correct Total Amount Awarded.
  2. That when you click on the small, light blue plus sign in front of each student’s name, it accurately shows the scholarship they received.
  3. That the status indicator is also accurate. The status indicator options are very important:
  • Awarded: You have made the decision to grant and award, but the student has not accepted the award. Online acceptance of the award is a requirement.
  • Applicant Accepted: The student has accepted the award, but the money has not yet been distributed to the school.
  • Disbursement Pending: The student has accepted the award but is not going to use the money until a later date -- next term or next year, at the discretion of the local affiliate.
  • Disbursed: The student has accepted and you have sent the money to the college.

To complete the scholarship award process, every student who receives a scholarship will be displayed as Disbursed. You can find specific disbursal instructions in the Chapter Resources Center, here.

If you have any questions, please contact support@scholarshipamerica.zendesk.com or your Area Director.

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