Be part of the Drive to Boost Education
Every year the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park's "Stay In School" program selects 4 grade 6 students from economically challenged families to participate in the program. We continue to mentor and provide financial aid for them until they achieve their dream of a post secondary education.
THE PURPOSE
Many Calgary students who have the ability to attend a post-secondary school will not get an opportunity to do so because of limited family financial resources. The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park "Stay-In-School" Scholarship Foundation has been enacted to provide financial assistance and mentorship to selected students.
The program has 3 key objectives:
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Support and motivate students who may not have the financial resources to attend a post-secondary educational institution;
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Encourage students and their parents to investigate opportunities available to them after high school;
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Introduce the work of Rotary to educators, students and parents and encourage the development of similar programs by other groups.
THE STUDENTS
Student selection is based on two main factors:
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Students must have the academic ability to graduate from high school and meet post-secondary requirements throughout the program.
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Students must come from a family that clearly does not have the financial means to pay for a post-secondary education.
To date 66 Students have participated in the program and 15 have graduated. 22 students are currently enrolled in post-secondary studies.
THE MENTORING
Mentoring plays an important role in the success of the "Stay-In-School" Program. Each student is connected with a mentor in grade seven and this relationship continues through the entire educational process through graduation from a post secondary institution.
The mentor's purpose is to:
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Monitor the scholastic progress of the student by reviewing copies of report cards and attendance records;
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Offer assistance and guidance in the event of difficulties;
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Encourage the student to maintain a satisfactory level of achievement;
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Inspire the student to set and maintain a standard of excellence in all of their interactions with family and community.
THE FUND
The Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park has set a goal of $4,500,000 that will sustain students throughout their post-secondary studies.
The "Stay in School" Scholarship Foundation offers significant financial support in the amount of $7,500 per student per year, to a maximum total of $30,000 over 4 years.
Richardson GMP of Calgary provided significant support to help launch the program and the Rotary Club of Calgary at Stampede Park contributes annually to the fund primarily through the annual golf tournament.