Rules is rules.
Posted on 09/24/2007 7:44:50 PM PDT by TheMom
I need objective opinions.
For the second year I am the president of athletic booster club at TheGirls school (not that big of a deal, we are only 10 strong). Every year the booster club gives scholarships to qualifying seniors.
The criteria for qualifying is (1)The parent(s) must be paid the dues ($10.00 or $15.00) by a certain date; (2) The parent(s) must have accumulated a certain number of volunteer hours by a certain date; and (3) The student must have a 2.5 GPA. The certain date is April 15th.
If the above criteria is met, the student fills out a the scholarship form, then interviews with the scholarship committee. The committee then decides which students will receive a scholarship, then sends the students a letter of congratulations which includes a specific deadline to return important information (the main information needed is proof of enrollment).
Simple right? This year we have drama.
The parents paid their dues several days past the deadline, the check was misplaced by our treasurer and was not deposited until four months later The treasurer should have contacted the parents before depositing the check. The check bounced because the account was closed.
Neither the student, nor the parents send in the important information by the deadline. According to the parent the student was planning to attend one college, but at the last moment was recruited by another – with the offer of a full scholarship for the freshman year. Neither the student, nor the parents informed anyone on the committee of this change until three weeks after the deadline. The parent claims she thought she sent an email, but was very busy during the week of the deadline trying to prepare to get her child to an out of state college. No proof of enrollment was sent in for the initial college choice.
The scholarship committee denied the scholarship. This evening the parent appealed the decision during our regular meeting. The committee met after the meeting to discuss the appeal and decided to meet with the parents later this week to discuss their decision.
BTW – the parent knows that her $15.00 check bounced (which technically means she is not a member of the booster club), and she did not bother to bring in cash this evening to cover the check and the $5.00 bank fee.
If you were on the scholarship committee what would you decide?
Keep in mind it is the students responsibility to get the info to the committee, if she trusted her parents to do it for her she should have stayed on her parents butt. The parent made a phone call to one of the members three weeks after the deadline to inform them of what was going on. The college info was just turned in tonight (6 weeks after the deadline).
I’m glad I am not on the committee that has to make this decision.
can she reapply next year? probably not. but she did get a full ride for this year. lesson learned, i guess. you want something bad enough, you have to abide by the rules. the rules seem straight forward enough.
There was a deadline. Does the deadline have meaning?
If so, enforce it.
If not, eliminate it.
Do not mention deadlines if they have no meaning.
And to the affected parent/student- do not agree to rules which you do not intend to follow. It really screws things up. Furthermore, it makes your word useless.
And if the deadline is not enforced, it makes the club’s rules useless.
So you must decide, do words mean things? If yes, your path is clear. If not, then anything goes.
The scholarship is not a large amount. But that is not the issue.
That is the amount that the bank charges us for a bounced check. We only ask that the bouncey reimburse that amount.
You seriously have to ask?
If there are any other qualified seekers, the scholarship must be given to the one that best met all the required standards.
I don’t know anything about your group or its scholarship, but it seems most scholarship opportunities have rules set in stone.
One either meets or exceeds stated requirements, or fails.
Why the angst?
She cannot reapply. Scholarships are for seniors only.
What an awesome counselor!
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosey.
“make it clear that it was given due to the child’s need and that mistakes like this will not be tolerated again...”
Until the next sob story, at which point all “rules” are null and void. The path whichsoever feeleth thy goodeth shall be trod regardless.
Good call.
“I dare you to cross this line. Okay... this line. Okay... THIS one. And boy do I ever mean it now!!”
No problem. Your advice is much appreciated.
It appears none of the requirements were met on time, regardless of the mistake by the tresurer.
I’d have to vote to deny.
Rules is rules.
I needed to get opinions of those that do not personally know the student & her parents.
Wasn’t he though:’) Yall are special people. Kids remember too.
Evidently you finished school and are happy with your circumstance. Post marks are trivial. What it took to get you where you are is not.
Had the money been denied, I am certaint that you would have found anothe rway to reach your goal. If not, you would have revised the goal and achieved “plan B.”
Your success is due more to who and what you are than to finances. I think. Then again, what do I know?
She already has a scholarship, give it to one that doesn't have anything.
BTW, I live pretty tight myself, but I manage to keep track of all my outstanding checks.
I get a bit perturbed when a check has not been cashed within 30 days, and will call the recipient to find out why not.
Does your group give handouts or hand-ups?
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