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A committee at Central High helps students and parents determine what scholarships are worth applying for.
By LOGAN NEILL
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2002
For the moment, things are fairly quiet in the small office in a corner of Central High's guidance department.
Students drop by and chat idly with parent scholarship committee volunteers Patti Jachimowicz, Maureen White and ChooBeen McDonald as they wade through the latest scholarship applications they've received that morning.
With important deadlines approaching, they take time to check through the forms, making sure that all blanks are filled correctly, that signatures are in their proper places, and that no important information is missing.
The women do this when there aren't more pressing concerns, as there will be once Central High's lunch period begins.
Once the bell rings, the room will quickly flood with students, all looking for the kind of help that the women from the school's parent scholarship committee are happy to provide.
And with just three weeks of school remaining, seniors still need plenty of help seeking financial assistance so that their college dreams might come true.
"Hunting for scholarships can be incredibly frustrating to kids and parents," says Jachimowicz, who has served on the 12-member volunteer committee for the past two years. "There are so many different ones out there, it's hard for anyone to know just what's available out there. We try to . . . cut through some of that confusion and help kids develop a plan that will help them reach their goals."
Since its formation several years ago, the group has been instrumental in landing the bulk of Central High's scholarship awards. In fact, last year, the effort landed about $2.8-million in public and private money, which was distributed to about 150 students.
Much of the committee's success in finding scholarships comes from knowing how the game is played, says White, a retired teacher and former guidance counselor who joined the team last fall.
"Scholarships these days are getting more and more competitive," says White. "The secret is getting the students organized and working early enough so they can meet deadlines and get the process rolling in their favor."
For some students, much of that work takes place in the fall, when many colleges and universities begin considering candidates for academic scholarships for the following year. The committee works with guidance counselors to try to determine which students will be academically eligible.
Students are encouraged to keep a "brag sheet," listing things such as club memberships, academic and sports achievements, and community service. In addition, students with particular career tracks are kept apprised of career-based scholarship possibilities they may be eligible for.
By far, the most popular scholarship has been Bright Futures, a state-backed award for students with a 3.0 or better grade point average that pays up to 100 percent of tuition costs at a Florida public university. Last year, 84 Central students were eligible for Bright Futures.
Perhaps the biggest source of pride for the committee has been its success in finding scholarship opportunities for Central's academically challenged students.
Each year, the group scouts out scholarships and grants meant for students with less than a B average. For many, the money provided the only hope of a post high school education.
"For a lot of kids whose parents just can't afford it, that scholarship money is a big help toward a better life," says Jachimowicz. "When you meet kids who really deserve a good education, it makes the time you spend helping them very worthwhile."
Next week, the committee hosts a scholarship awards ceremony at the school. More than 750 people are expected to attend. Many of the local awards will be presented by representatives of the organizations that made them available. For Central's parent scholarship committee, it's an opportunity to show those organizations the true value of their education commitment.
"It makes us very proud to show off these students who have worked so hard to be the best they can be," says Jachimowicz. "They can see they've made an investment in our future."