Completly off topic

[drhixson]

This is completely off topic to motorcycle related discussion, but I thought I would share this with you. Okay, where to start… well, growing up as a kid my family consisted of 3 boys and 1 girl, plus my mom and dad. We had a small, really small 3 bedroom house. I grew up sharing a room with my other 2 brothers. My mom and dad were able to provide for us, but it was really tight… We had the bare minimum’s.. in fact, I remember a couple times when we didn’t have any food, so I would go to the bathroom and actually eat toothpaste. Well… being tight money wise, we all had to attend public schools… and the one I attended in high school was not in the best area of town.. That was over 10 years ago now… Well, last weekend I was riding my bike around town and decided that I would ride by my old school. Boy, it has really went down a lot, and so had the neighborhood, just very low income people struggling to survive.. I felt really bad, riding around on my R1, a Mercedes in the garage, and a house in the country club.. So yesterday (Tuesday), I talked to an attorney, and we are setting up a LLC under my name. My plan is, to offer a scholarship to 1 underprivileged child, per year, that would like to attend college after graduating from the high school that I attended. Like I said, this person would have to be graduating from the high school that I attended, and will only be eligible if he\she really needs help. I am not granting it to a 4.0 student with loads of scholarships and a ton of money. I am gearing towards the 2.0 or 3.0 student struggling to get through school but wants to better him\herself.. It will not be a large scholarship, probably a single $5,000 scholarship for 1 person. Each year, I will grant another scholarship. Now my dilemma is, how should I go about the candidate process? I am thinking they need to submit an essay to me, etc. What are your thoughts? One thing I know, is if I require an essay, I DO NOT want it typed or done on a computer, it must be handwritten.. you can tell a lot about a person just by looking at a handwritten letter

 

[FNG]

Nice that you're in a position to give something back, and are doing it. Why not tailor it to the side of life you enjoy-that is, motorcycling or enginerring in general. This way, the qualification could be a well done project, rather than an essay, that would be judged on completion. A robot, mini-bike, car engine, something on that order. Rather than just setting up yet another journalist, reward that which you also enjoy, and help create another motorhead extraordinaire.

 

[drhixson]

That is a thought....

 

[ScrapeApe]

Maybe you should target single parent / no parent families. That really seems to be the problem with today's youth - lack of parenting.

 

[zzkenoman]

Why don't you invite a couple of classes to a contest, either on the property or at a local dealer parking lot. Race bicycles for 3 laps, and the one with the best time out of the contestants would win. If you have a big turn out, do it over 2 days on the weekend. It would be a fun, competitive, strength & endurance, and motivation to win something that doesn't need classroom smarts. You can make it a annual event, and possibly pull together some sponsers to add for gifts or add to the scholarship fund.

 

[fjrchik]

you should have a dance-off! :dance:

 

[Woodstock]

+1 on the hand-written note/essay, though. If, for no other reason, you can tell if the kid actually took the time to write it, rather than having a parent type it up.

I do like that idea, though; you may have just challanged me to do something similar. <_<

 

[Calabash]

Get recommendations from the counselors and teachers at that child's school. Discuss with the teachers at the school how they would like you to set it up. Tell them the type of child you are looking for and ask for the teachers feedback as well as the principal.

 

[drhixson]

Get recommendations from the counselors and teachers at that child's school. Discuss with the teachers at the school how they would like you to set it up. Tell them the type of child you are looking for and ask for the teachers feedback as well as the principal.

yep, I am meeting with the school principle next week.

 

[ladybug]

I like the essay idea; make the topic one that will include their goals and how they plan to reach them. :graduate:

 

[Woodstock]

Get recommendations from the counselors and teachers at that child's school.  Discuss with the teachers at the school how they would like you to set it up.  Tell them the type of child you are looking for and ask for the teachers feedback as well as the principal.

yep, I am meeting with the school principle next week.

Keep us informed as to how it goes.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I would ask for an essay explaining how they would use the $5,000 and make it the foundation of a plan. They may need help here. Most 17/18 year olds have no clue how to spend that money:

1) Where will they live?

2) How will they get food?

3) What are their financial responsibilities and how will they meet them?

$5k is super nice, but it will only work for kids that are going to live at home, or work to subsidize living expenses. The question I would have is: Do they have a viable plan to educate themselves while still meeting all the needs of real life?

Next, to see that they really need it, ask for w-2's of parents.

By the way, I really like the components of your idea that you told us about.

 

[v65]

Ask questions of a financial aid officer before you set this up. Sorry I can't remember details right now, but here is what I remember from a donation we recently receieved.

Most students attending college have some form of financial aid - usually student loans. The amount of money that they pay out of pocket is determined on their need and is generally fixed. If you structure this scholarship one way they will pay the same amount out of pocket as if they didn't have a scholarship - their scholarship will go to towards reducing their loans. I believe there is a way to structure this so that you can reduce their out of pocket expenses. Your call which you think is more useful.

If you want I can ask our financial aid person and see what they say.

 

[Luke]

Bravo, kudos and :clap:

Great idea!

I think your best input on selection is the route you are already taking.

But the best input on how to set it up would come from the financial aid office of any major university.

Also you might target vocational schools. They don't get the press or the public/cultural push that colleges enjoy. Our country needs to replace it's aging skilled labor force as well.

 

[Scab]

Okay, I applaud your gift. However, the whole process of an essay or anything written may defeat the very ones you wish to help. I know of what I am speaking. I am the testing coordinator for a college. Today, the economically challenged are typically not going to fare well with written expression. Sad, but true. My suggestion would be to totally think outside the box. In fact, throw the box away. Come up with a completely knew process and look for heart. You will know the one when you meet her/him.

Perhaps you could utilize interviews. Perhaps video requests. Something that shows you what type of person is inside, not what they currently know. Look for potential. Look for a dream.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Okay, I applaud your gift.  However, the whole process of an essay or anything written may defeat the very ones you wish to help.  I know of what I am speaking.  I am the testing coordinator for a college.  Today, the economically challenged are typically not going to fare well with written expression.  Sad, but true.  My suggestion would be to totally think outside the box.  In fact, throw the box away.  Come up with a completely knew process and look for heart.  You will know the one when you meet her/him.Perhaps you could utilize interviews.  Perhaps video requests.  Something that shows you what type of person is inside, not what they currently know.  Look for potential.  Look for a dream.

I think this is an excellent observation. There are so many good, hard working people that have a problem with writing. Look at TwoWheelNut!

:lol:

Seriously, interviews might be the best process and the biggest problem you'll have then is the magnitude of need and having that in your face.

 

[Woodstock]

I see the point you guys are making, however, if this is meant to be a scholarship

to a college/university and they can't write an essy, they won't be sucessful, no

matter how much "heart". You don't have to look for college quality work here, but

writing a two paragraph essay can't possibly be beyond the skill set of the intended

recipient.

You can make allowances for english not being first language or street-slang or

whatever, but the reality is they have to be able to write something if they're

college-bound.

At least, I think so.

 

[bikerskier]

I see the point you guys are making, however, if this is meant to be a scholarshipto a college/university and they can't write an essy, they won't be sucessful, no

matter how much "heart". You don't have to look for college quality work here, but

writing a two paragraph essay can't possibly be beyond the skill set of the intended

recipient.

You can make allowances for english not being first language or street-slang or

whatever, but the reality is they have to be able to write something if they're

college-bound.

I agree with Woodstock. No kid is going to make it in College unless they can write enough to convey their need and dreams to you. Will you have the school narrow the candidates or will you take all applicants and vet them yourself.

PS: Kudos to you for a great and generous idea!

 

[drhixson]

Okay, I applaud your gift. However, the whole process of an essay or anything written may defeat the very ones you wish to help. I know of what I am speaking. I am the testing coordinator for a college. Today, the economically challenged are typically not going to fare well with written expression. Sad, but true. My suggestion would be to totally think outside the box. In fact, throw the box away. Come up with a completely knew process and look for heart. You will know the one when you meet her/him.Perhaps you could utilize interviews. Perhaps video requests. Something that shows you what type of person is inside, not what they currently know. Look for potential. Look for a dream.

excellent idea!!!!