Britek Scholarship Starts On Winning Note
| The Britek Motorsport Scholarship has kicked-off on the best possible note with 14-year-old Scott McLaughlin winning the ‘Top Guns’ Junior Clubman Series at the Oakleigh Kart track in Melbourne over consecutive Friday night meetings.
On Friday 18 January the Gold Coast racer took Pole Position, won the opening race and finished third in a very wet second race to be placed first overall. Then on Friday 25 January he was second on the grid by 0.015, took a green-light to flag-fall win in the opening race, then enjoyed a great duel in race #2 to post another victory. The result in a field of 22 entries was an overwhelming victory in the two-meet series. “This is a great way to start the year,” said McLaughlin. “The competition was very tough, especially in the wet and the final race of the series. “I know that I still have a lot to learn and that’s my real goal in 2008.” Britek Motorsport Managing Director and driver of the #25 Fujitsu Racing Ford Falcon in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, Jason Bright, was in attendance and pleased with McLaughlin’s performance. |
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KU football rescinds scholarship
Kansas University’s football team now has three known scholarships left to pass out this recruiting season.
An extra one opened up after the coaching staff was forced to rescind its offer to Zach Stadther, according to Rivals.com.
Stadther, a defensive tackle out of North Little Rock, Ark., is considered an academic risk. With Kansas able to sign only 22 recruits because of NCAA penalties enforced in 2006, it’s unable to take chances on players who may not qualify to enroll.
Stadther did land on his feet, though, committing to Arkansas on Tuesday.
“It was a letdown for him, but he bounced back, stayed focused, and good things came about,” Stadther’s father, J.D., told Rivals. “Arkansas was where he was wanting to go to begin with.”
Meanwhile, a couple of KU’s top remaining targets have decided to go elsewhere.
Keanon Cooper, a safety out of Dallas who visited KU last weekend, committed to Texas Tech on Monday. Defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore, meanwhile, committed to Texas A&M last week.
Another familiar name, running back Cyrus Gray, committed to Texas A&M as well. Gray no longer was a priority, though, after Kansas snagged a commitment from junior-college tailback Jocques Crawford last week.
As for the remaining three scholarships, two possibilities are defensive ends: Tremayne Scott out of Ocala, Fla., and Gary Mason out of Waxahachie, Texas.
Currently, the Jayhawks have 19 known commitments for their 2008 class, four of which already are on campus. Like it so often has, KU may choose to save a scholarship for after signing day to try to find a prospect that fell through the cracks. That strategy has led to the signings of Marcus Henry, Joe Mortensen and Jason Hind in recent years.
• Back to work: KU officials said Tuesday that Mark Mangino is back working, one day after the head football coach confirmed going to the hospital for undisclosed reasons.
Mangino released a statement Monday night indicating he “underwent some tests over the past couple of days” at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, and that he was doing fine.
• Heading north: Former Kansas linebacker Kevin Kane has accepted a job at Wisconsin as a graduate assistant.
Kane, who worked in the KU football office this past season, will be reunited at Wisconsin with former KU linebackers coach Dave Doeren. Badgers head coach Bret Bielema recently promoted Doeren to defensive coordinator.
“I’m pretty excited to go back up with coach Doeren,” Kane said. “It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Kane, who’s considering a career in coaching, will leave Friday. He could stay at Wisconsin for up to three years depending on how his graduate studies go.
Wacky scholarships: Looking into available financial aid
CADILLAC - For Bryant Hall, finding scholarships for college “is a major deal.”
“To try and get even a little bit of money in scholarships to pay for college (is important),” said the Cadillac High School senior. “Paying for college today has gotten a lot harder,” added Hall, referring to the competitiveness for scholarships.
Fellow senior Kelly McCurdy agrees that it’s important to find scholarships, saying, “The more money you can get for college, the better off you’ll be - you won’t have as many loans to pay off.”
So, what’s the best way to look for scholarships? Both students aren’t really sure, but they plan to look for scholarship money at the colleges they’re accepted to, through their high school, and by perusing Internet scholarship sites.
With the many scholarship Web sites available today, the Cadillac News decided to investigate the ease of finding scholarships online through fastweb.com. While the process of finding scholarships was pretty straightforward, you’ll need about one-half hour to devote to the search.
Sites such as fastweb.com, schoolsoup.com and studentaid.ed.gov offer checklists ranging from activities and achievements to disabilities and religious affiliations. The scholarship seeker checks the options that apply to them, then the search engine lists the various scholarships for which you qualify. Then, follow the instructions listed on the site about how to apply for the scholarships.
While there are some very specific scholarships out there, such as scholarships for left-handed people or for people who grew up in the Upper Penninsula, Cadillac High School guidance counselor Linda Feister said most are academic-based.
“Most (scholarship donors) usually look at the student’s academics: ACT scores, a rigorous academic curriculum ninth through 12th grade, high school GPA, and advanced placement classes,” Feister said. “Most scholarships are for kids that have a talent or skill that they can bring to the college or university to enhance it.”
McCurdy and Hall said they have some hesitations when it comes to using the Internet to find scholarships.
“It’s good that (the Internet) gives you the opportunity to get scholarships, but with the number of people that can win them, it’s kind of scary - it kind of shuns you away (from wanting to apply),” Hall said.
After hearing about some of the more specified scholarships, McCurdy and Hall also had hesitations regarding the legitimacy of some of the scholarships.
“Really? Is that a legitimate scholarship?” asked Hall, after hearing about a chance to win a $2,000 scholarship by submitting a video of yourself singing or lip-synching to Nichole Scherzinger’s “Baby Love.”
And McCurdy showed her hesitation by saying she’s “always worried that it’s not going to be an actual scholarship” when she’s looking at scholarships online.
Linda Feister, Cadillac High School guidance counselor, said students should be “cautious” when navigating Internet scholarship sites because some may be scams; watch out for scholarships that require you to pay a fee. Feister also recommends asking a parent or guardian to go through the search and application process with you.
kkiley@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)
Ohio State pull scholarship offer to DeVoe Torrence
COLUMBUS Stark County football will be on the outside looking in when Ohio State announces its 2008 recruiting class a week from today.
The Buckeyes have pulled their full-ride scholarship offer to Massillon running back DeVoe Torrence, a source within OSU’s program told The Repository on Tuesday night. Sources close to OSU’s program confirmed the offer had been pulled.
Torrence lost his scholarship for off-the-field issues which may include academic problems, sources said. The Repository first reported earlier this month that one of Ohio’s top recruits had not scheduled an official visit to Ohio State.
A message left for Torrence, considered one of the state’s top prospects, was not returned. His voice mail box was full, but Torrence also did not respond to a text message sent to his cell phone.
Massillon head coach Tom Stacy declined comment earlier this week on Torrence’s future. All scholarship offers include character and academic provisions which give schools the right to pull offers if not met.
This will be the first time in at least 15 years a Stark County player has not signed a scholarship offer with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel has buckled down on fringe recruits, especially in the wake of the embarrassing Maurice Clarett saga.
Torrence’s brother, Devon, is a freshman who played sparingly on Ohio State’s special teams and at wide receiver. He also did not respond to a message Tuesday.
DeVoe Torrence, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, would have initially been tried at running back in Columbus. He could have played linebacker, however, because the Buckeyes have a backlog of running backs on the roster. In addition to Chris “Beanie” Wells for at least one more year, OSU has Brandon Saine, Maurice Wells and Daniel Herron (who redshirted this past season).
Tressel received a verbal commitment from Glenville running back Jermil Martin for the 2008 class. Tressel has also offered Katy, Texas, running back Aundre Dean. Pulling Torrence’s offer does not leave the Buckeyes with a shortage at the position.
Torrence received the Ohio State offer before he left Canton South High School and transferred to Massillon. He struggled at times while running out of Massillon’s I-formation. He had opened the eyes of college coaches, however, while running out of South’s spread offense as an underclassman.
The first day high school seniors can sign letters of intent with a college is Feb. 6.
Reach Repository sports writer Todd Porter at (330) 580-8340 or e-mail: todd.porter@cantonrep.com
Scholarship opportunities/contests
The Pasco Education Foundation Inc. is accepting online applications through 11:59 p.m. Thursday for its Scholarship Opportunities for Graduating Seniors from Pasco County Public Schools. Seniors can complete an online application by visiting www.pascoeducationfoundation.org.
- Conscious Lifestyle is accepting grant applications from high school and college students who exhibit interest and commitment to social entrepreneurship and consumer responsibility in areas such as socially human rights, animal welfare and environmentalism. Winners receive up to $1,000, Web space and other pertinent resources to complete projects of their choosing.
Download an application at www.consciouslifestyle.org/2008ventureapp. Deadline is Feb. 15. Winners will be announced April 1. For information or to check out previous winning projects, visit www.consciouslifestyle.org or call Mike Del Ponte, executive director of Conscious Lifestyle, at (925) 360-4149.
- Applications are available for the Lowes Scholarship for high school seniors nationwide, and the Carl S. Buchanan Scholarship for Lowes employees, spouses and their dependents. Deadline is March 15. For information and applications go to www.lowes.com/scholarships.
- WHAM-O 60th Anniversary Kid Inventor Contest, open to children ages 6 to 17. The winning toy inventor will receive $2,000 cash and profits from WHAM-O making and distributing their toy. Deadline to enter is March 31. For complete contest information, rules, guidelines and submission information, visit www.wham-o.com/contest. Finalists will be announced in April.
Memorial scholarship continues coach’s legacy
MIDDLETOWN — As a teacher and coach, Ted Stewart touched the lives of countless young people.
Even as he neared the end of his 10-year battle with cancer, he envisioned new ways — such as basketball camps — to help local youth, said his daughter, Beth Stewart-Etchison.
The former Middie basketball coach will continue to touch young lives through a memorial scholarship.
The Barbourville, Ky., native died Dec. 28 of cancer at age 67. He worked in Middletown and Monroe high schools as an educator and coach.
The Stewart family, through the Middletown Community Foundation, is establishing the Coach Ted Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The family and the foundation are working to finalize the criteria, but it will be awarded to a senior student-athlete of Monroe or Middletown high schools, said Stewart-Etchison.
The scholarship likely will be awarded for the first time in 2009.
The fund previously was housed at Chase Bank, but the family moved it to the community foundation so donations would be tax deductible, said Duane T. Gordon, executive director of the Middletown Community Foundation.
“By electing to place the scholarship at the community foundation, Mr. Stewart’s wife, daughter and son have ensured that his memory will be honored in perpetuity in the community long after we are all gone,” Gordon said.
How to donate
Send donations to the Coach Ted Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Middletown Community Foundation, 36 Donham Plaza, Middletown OH 45042.
Shawnee scholarship applicants sought
SHAWNEE — One lucky senior at Shawnee High School will receive a $5,000 scholarship this year, thanks in part to State Teacher of the Year Stephanie Canada.
Each year, the Edward C. Joullian III Scholarhip is awarded to a senior attending high school in the Oklahoma Teacher of Year’s school district, said Cindy Bartley, a guidance counselor at Shawnee High School.
Canada, a physical education teacher at Will Rogers Elementary School, was named the 2007-08 State Teacher of the Year in September.
The scholarship can be used to pay for tuition, books, fees and supplies at any public or private college, officials said.
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a senior at Shawnee High School, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a legal resident of Oklahoma. They also must meet the requirements for graduation from high school.
All applications must be turned in to Bartley’s office by Feb. 13.
While any senior can apply, no more than 50 applications will be forwarded to the state Education Department, Bartley said.
The applications will be judged by a review committee made up of this year’s teacher of the year finalists. The review committee will narrow the number of applications to six. Representatives from the State Fair Board of Directors will interview the final six applicants and select one scholarship winner and two alternates.
LSUA Leadership Scholarship Winners
Brittany Hightower from Buckeye High School has won a four-year full tuition and fees scholarship from LSU at Alexandria from the university’s first Leadership Scholarship competition.
Sam Decuir from the Louisiana School for Agricultural Sciences in Bunkie, Kasey Perkins from Rapides High School, Nicole Kimble from Avoyelles High School, Jennifer Barton from Menard High School and Brittni McWaters from Buckeye High School earned four-year half scholarships.
Participants were graded on an essay and a day-long project at LSUA that required them to conceive, charter, fund and plan a membership drive for a student organization.
“Our goal was to identify student leaders who have the capacity to help shape our campus as we continue to evolve with our baccalaureate (four-year) degree programs,” said Teresa Seymour, director of records/registrar. “We were very impressed with the caliber of the competitors, and we look forward to their impact in and out of the classroom as LSUA students.”
Sisung earns scholarship
Brenda Sisung was awarded one of the Spartan Insurance Agency’s annual scholarship for 2007. She is the daughter of Don and Jane Sisung of St. Johns.
Sisung is planning to focus on breeding and genetics of beef cattle and swine after her completion of an animal science degree at Michigan State University. She is dedicated to agriculture and has been involved in various aspects of it her entire life. She feels ethanol will have a major impact on the future of agriculture as well as environmental issues and the loss of farmland to urban sprawl.
Spartan Insurance Agency has a strong commitment to the agricultural industry. Spartan has been awarding scholarships since 1999. This year the scholarship committee decided to award fewer scholarships and increase the amount of each scholarship awarded to $1,000 per student.
“The future of agriculture is definitely important to our business,” said Eric Cook, co-owner of Spartan Insurance. Spartan Insurance feels it is essential to the future of agriculture to support the students pursuing careers in agriculture and those who will be the future leaders of the industry. “We wish these students the best in their future endeavors. We are excited to have such qualified people entering the agricultural field.”
The other 2007 Spartan Insurance scholarship recipients include Ashley Messing, Nicole Schaendorf, Marc Hasenick and Marie Bohnett. 2008 Spartan scholarships are available to students from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. o be eligible, students need a GPA of 2.6 or higher; must be a current college student or plan to enroll by the fall of 2008 and pursue a field related to agriculture. The deadline for the 2008 Spartan Scholarship is April 30, 2008. For more information on the scholarship program and a copy of the application, or information regarding crop insurance, call 1-800-888-2767
LA Scholarship: tips and info
At midnight on Friday, February 8th, applications for the annual Leadership Academy scholarship will no longer be accepted. For those of you who are not familiar with the Leadership Academy, here is some information you should know:
The Leadership Academy is comprised of a group of undergraduate IIT students who exemplify the characteristics of successful leaders. New scholars are chosen on a yearly basis through a two-step application process and are awarded a full-tuition scholarship upon their acceptance into the program. The first step in this process is a written application consisting of objective personal information (Major, GPA, leadership experience, etc.) and subjective essay questions.
These forms can be downloaded and printed out from the website leadershipacademy.iit.edu as well as filled in and submitted electronically. Hard copies are also available in the Leadership Academy office in Life Science, room 90B in the basement. TIP #1: This form is moderately long, so give yourself enough time to complete it satisfactorily. It will be easy to see who has thrown their application together hastily at the last moment, so spend some quality time with the application – it’s worth it!
The written applications will be scored objectively by the staff of the Leadership Academy. Key features of the application are: GPA, leadership experience (on and off campus), involvement in organizations and teams, and participation in leadership development programs. You are encouraged to include any and all applicable information from high school, IIT, and the workplace. TIP #2: Attendance of the Sophomore Leadership Retreat and Leadership Academy seminars counts as leadership development!
Another key component to the written application is the faculty/staff nomination form. While the written student form is due Friday, February 8th, the faculty/staff form is to be submitted no later than February 15th. This form is a questionnaire about the student that the faculty/staff member fills out and submits directly to the Leadership Academy. TIP #3: Contact a faculty or staff member with whom you have much interaction and whom you believe will give a positive and honest recommendation about you. And, of course, talk to this person ahead of time! Give them at least a week to finish the form and submit it. Make sure to follow up with them, but don’t be pesky.
The top scorers on the written applications will be invited to participate in the next phase of selection, the LEAD (Leadership Experience for Assessment and Development) process. Based on this final stage, nine students will gain acceptance into the Leadership Academy and awarded with a full tuition scholarship (while the website does say ten awards will be given out, the official number is nine).
TIP #4 (the BIG one): If you are at all interested in the Leadership Academy, even slightly, then pick up an application and fill it out! Try your hand at it and see where it takes you. The desire to stand out among other applicants is likely to give you motivation to become more involved in activities and organizations on campus, which can be a very rewarding experience!
If you have any further questions about the Leadership Academy, feel free to talk to me or any of the other scholars on campus. We are here to help!
