LIVE UNITED Y’All!

by Natalie Harris

Although it’s been awhile since I’ve had to scrape up the money to pay for college, I definitely remember it as a high-wire act with more documentation and research involved than most of my research papers ever ended up being. So I’m pretty excited to pass on this scholarship opportunity to any students out there who make a difference here in our region as a volunteer. Please note that the deadline, May 13, 2010, is fast approaching!

Here are the basics:

WHAT: Metro United Way Scholarship for Student Voluntarism

HOW MUCH: Up to $3,000

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS

Any graduating high school senior OR high school graduate under the age of 23 OR older returning students who can demonstrate exceptional accomplishments and special circumstances.

Applicants must be a resident of the Metro United Way service area: Clark, Floyd, or Harrison counties in Indiana, or Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, or Shelby counties in Kentucky.

APPLICATION PROCESS

To apply, candidates must complete an application form, submit an official secondary school transcript, complete a questionnaire detailing community service, and provide two reference letters detailing the student’s volunteer involvement and experience.

Students interested in applying for this scholarship will find the official application online at metrounitedway.org/volunteer. Students may also contact Mary Sullivan at Metro United Way, at (502) 292-6154 or mary.sullivan@metrounitedway.org.

DEADLINE

Applications must be returned to Metro United Way, postmarked or e-mailed, no later then May 13^th.

Education, Volunteering college, scholarship, youth

By Mary Sullivan

What do wide eyes and laughter have in common?  Let me go a little further in my explanation. Recently 240 students from Holy Cross High School spent the day volunteering. Two of the sites I visited were Iroquois Child Care Center and California Area Family Development Center. I heard laughter from both children and students as they were bouncing balls up into the air. Children were wrapped around the legs of these students, and in another room three little girls wanted to show their dolls to one of the boys.

Today, we often read or hear about how young people aren’t engaged, but in one day Holy Cross students volunteered at nine different organizations, provided 1320 service hours, and gave back $27,522.00 of in-kind service to our community. Holy Cross High School certainly isn’t the only school that does volunteer work. So far this school year, Metro United Way has coordinated volunteer projects for Barret Middle School, Moore Middle School, Spalding University, Bellarmine University, IUS and U of L.

Metro United Way has been supportive of youth volunteering for many years, and for 22 years, Metro United Way has recognized a high school senior for their volunteer effort by awarding a $3,000 scholarship.  In fact, Volunteer Engagement Center origins began from a partnership with U of L School of Recreation, the Junior League of Louisville and Metro United Way (Community Chest). Since the 1930’s until today, helping youth map out their career choices or exploring interests through volunteering has always been part of what we do. So if you a student or a group looking to do something this summer, need to do community service hours for school or your faith based organization, want to meet interesting people, or just have fun, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Center’s website at metrounitedway.org/volunteer.

Education, Volunteering community change, early childhood, future, making a difference, Metro United Way, scholarship, youth