TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR RAS – Voice Of The Township

It’s getting toward the end of the school year, and once again the Wayne Township Trustee Office is taking applications for the Recognizing Achievement Scholarship that we offer to graduating high school seniors who are moving on to higher education. And this year for the first time we are offering a new incentive, the Academic Encouragement Award, for students in grades 11 and under.

I feel strongly that education is most important in the effort toward reducing poverty. At the Wayne Township Trustee Office we go beyond emergency assistance and try to get to the root of an individual’s financial problems. Oftentimes it’s a matter of education, whether for adults who have missed out on learning some basic living or financial skills or for the younger crowd. For the adults we bring in speakers from many agencies around the county to talk about living skills like nutrition, job search techniques and basic home accounting.

For those still in school, we offer the Recognizing Achievement Award and for the first time the Academic Encouragement Award. This is the fifth year for the RAS Award, and I am proud to say that both of these scholarships are funded, not with taxpayer dollars, but by individual donations collected in conjunction with our annual Holiday Celebration in December.

Following is some information on applying for our Recognizing Achievement Scholarship (RAS) Award. These are $500 scholarships awarded to selected high school seniors who are heading off to higher education opportunities. Awards are given on the basis of financial need, scholastic achievement or improvement, community service and educational aspirations. Students who are residents of Wayne Township are encouraged to apply.

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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Residence in Wayne Township (call 260-449-7000 x 328 to verify that your address is in Wayne Township); Graduation from a public or private high school by the spring of 2017; Acceptance to an institution of higher learning to start in the summer or fall of 2017; And meeting income eligibility guidelines.

RAS applicants are required to submit: a fully-completed application form (obtained from your high school or our office); a high school transcript; a recommendation letter from a teacher, counselor, coach, or other individual validating your academic improvements; a one-page essay written by the applicant (discussing your most significant challenge or accomplishment and its value to you).

Applications may be obtained from a Fort Wayne Community Schools high school, or they can be picked up at our office at 320 E. Superior Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802.

For those in the lower grades we have started the Academic Encouragement Award. Because I believe that doing well in school improves one’s chances for a bright future and a happy life ahead, the Wayne Township Trustee Office has created the AEA for younger students who can show that they are committed to their schoolwork.

Each student who submits a completed application showing achievement or improvement will receive an Academic Encouragement Certificate of Recognition, and the top submissions (based on the quality of your personal statement writing and your teacher/counselor recommendation) will be selected to receive a new, internet-ready electronic device.

You may request a RAS Award Packet or an application for the Academic Encouragement Award by sending an email to pbrewer@waynetownship.org. Completed applications must be returned to our office by noon on May 12, 2017, to be considered for the award. If you have questions, or would like to make a donation towards the RAS Award, contact our office (260) 449-7000 extension 328.