FTC Team Email Blast - Senior Mentor Call – FIRST Scholarship Program, Oct. 29 7pm EST

Richard Levey – FIRST Senior Mentor, Chicago
Nancy Rosenberg – FIRST Scholarship Manager
Thursday, October 29, 2009 7:00 pm (East Coast Time)

Questions about the FIRST Scholarship Program?
Contact Nancy at scholarships@usfirst.org or call 603-666-3906 x 451.

General Overview of FIRST Scholarships
· www.usfirst.org/scholarships

· Kinds of Scholarships
· Who can apply
· When and How to Apply
· The Role of FIRST

Current Status of FIRST Scholarships (as of 10/20/09)

· FRC – Over $11M / over 650 scholarship opportunities / over 125 scholarship providers
· FTC – Over $7M / over 400 scholarship opportunities / over 90 scholarship providers
· 3 new scholarship providers (more will be added by end of season)
· 8 scholarships discontinued or put on hold this year (because of current economic downturn)
· Many current scholarship providers increased scholarship amount or quantity this year.

Why Some FIRST Scholarships Go Unused
· Scholarships offered but not accepted
· Not enough applicants – lost opportunities

What Can Mentors and Coaches Do to Help Students Get FIRST Scholarships?
· Encourage awareness of careers in Engineering, Science, and Technology fields

o Help students be aware of possibilities
· Encourage awareness of FIRST Scholarship Program
o Resources: www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=15411
§ FIRST Scholarship PowerPoint Presentation
§ 2009 FIRST Scholarship Tri-fold brochure
§ 2010 FIRST Scholarships Listed by State
§ FIRST Scholarship FAQs - http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/content.aspx?id=15408

o Reach students, parents, mentors, high school guidance counselors
· Encourage students to research FIRST scholarships
o How to use the 2010 FIRST Scholarship Opportunities listing (http://www.usfirst.org/scholarshipsearch.aspx )
o Visit website of scholarship providers
o Scholarship activities at Regional and Championship Events
· Encourage/help students to apply for FIRST Scholarships
o Workshop on how to apply (get guidance counselor involved)
o Past scholarship winners
o One-on-one help with applications
o Student Essays – (encourage student to read requirements carefully, give examples, proof-read)
· Letters of Recommendation from mentors and teachers
o Schedule time
o Find out what scholarship provider is looking for
o Be concise, be clear, be honest

How to call: 1-800-503-2899

Access code: 6663906

*Please note there are only 150 lines open for these calls, first-come, first-serve. All calls are recorded.

GO TEAMS GO!

FIRST TM (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/default.aspx?id=968

Being a Gracious Professional involves respecting yourself, your team, other teams, and everyone around you. It is a way of doing things with a competitive spirit, without making anyone feel like a loser. Gracious Professionalism is a way of interacting with other people respectfully, doing excellent work, and promoting teamwork and appreciation of others.