The Rapha W. Brown Memorial Scholarship
Ra Brown graduated from Aberdeen High School with the Class of 1936. He had special feelings for Aberdeen High School as school personnel and community members supported his successful graduation from high school. He met and married Virginia Davis of Aberdeen. He continued his studies at ISU Vo-Tech and continued on to successful career in electronics. Due to the positive influence that Aberdeen High School had on his life, it was his wish to return the favor through a $10,000 Scholarship Endowment of which the annual interest would be used to provide a scholarship to a worthy student(s) wishing to pursue future study in electronics, computer science, or computer-related disciplines.
Management of the Endowment
The $10,000 Endowment will be retained at a bank designated by the board. It will be held in the name of Aberdeen School District. It will be placed in a renewable one year certificate or deposit of other such investment opportunity which yields the highest annual return with a due date of December 1st of each year. The principle $10,000 will be held in perpetuity. The interest will be awarded each year in the form of a one-time scholarship(s).
Management of the Scholarship
The scholarship selection committee shall be composed of the following individuals*:
High School Principal, Chair
High School Counselor
Teacher assigned by the Principal
Trustee assigned by the Board
President Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
*No one may serve on this selection committee who is related to a student that is applying for the scholarship. Representative substitution(s) shall be made by the high school principal in consultation with Superintendent of Schools.
Scholarship applications must be received by thehigh school counselor by April 1st. The selection committee will meet on or about April 10th. The scholarship recipient will be announced on or about May 1st. The scholarship will be awarded formally at graduation exercises. Lump sum payment of the scholarship will be prepared by the school district after:
1. Verification of acceptance to an accredited institution of higher learning.
2. Submission of an official transcript of the initial semester of classes which shows the student passing a minimum of 12 semester credits, of which six must be in the fields of electronics, computer science, chemistry, physics, zoology, physiology, biology,or mathematics.
3. The scholarship must be claimed within three years of the graduation date, or it will revert back to the scholarship fund as principle.
4. The winner of the scholarship bears the sole responsibility for contacting the District and claiming the scholarship within three years time.
Scholarship Eligibility
Eligibility requirements are as follows:
1. The student must meet minimum academic eligibility requirements that are necessary to be fully accepted, without condition, into a College, University, or Trade School.
2. The student must be a graduating senior.
3. The student must have at least 5 high school semester credits* from the following classes: Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Physiology, Computer Applications (or beyond), Algebra II (or higher), Mechanics, Welding, or any other offered Technology classes.
* MAXIMUM OF TWO SEMESTERS ALLOWED IN COUNT FOR EACH CLASS LISTED.
4. The student must type a 2 page, double-spaced essay describing his/her interest in entering the fields of electronics, computer science,or closely related field (eligible majors determined by the committee).
5. The student must be interviewed by the selection committee.
6. The student must register for a minimum of six semester credits in electronics, computer science, science, or mathematics and at least 12 total credits in the initial college semester preceding the payment of the scholarship.
Selection Criteria
Qualifying applications will be considered on the following point system:
Essay………..0-25 points (Average of five Judges)
Interview……0-25 points (Average of five Judges)
Classes………2 points for each creditin item 3 taken beyond the five minimum required.
Need…………5 points for students whose combined parental and student income for the preceding year does not exceed the limit that is set in the formula that is used to determine eligibility for reduced lunch.
If, after the initial screening, top applicants are tied or very close in points, the following criteria may be considered at the committee’s discretion:
1. The committee may select more than one recipient to receive the scholarship if committee members feel more than one applicant is deserving of the award, and ample funds are available to reward more than one student.
– or –
2. GPA……..The scholarship will be awarded to the student with the highest GPA. If top applicants have matching GPA’s (carried to the 3rd decimal without rounding), then the scholarship will be divided evenly among the finalists. Initial screening to verify GPA, financial
eligibility, course work, and completed application will be completed prior to the fist meeting of the selection committee by the school principal counselor.
LEGAL REFERENCE:
ADOPTED: June 21, 2000
AMENDED: March 20, 2002
(Form)