SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
MISSION STATEMENT
We know our juniors will be a big part of the next generation to breed, train, and exhibit our Chows. Presently, we are not seeing many of our youth or new exhibitors come into the breed to carry on the legacy of the Chow Chow Fancy.
After listening to conversations with the CCCI Board of Directors and the Membership, it is resolved that establishing a Scholarship fund used to encourage youth to get involved in the breed is a basic step toward positive change. Our intent is to create a program that is fun, inviting, and rewarding for juniors.
These Scholarship funds would only be available to applicants who are themselves members of CCCI or whose parent or guardian is a CCCI member in good standing.
The Scholarship will only be awarded to a graduating high school senior to be used to further their education at a college, university, or vocational school of ttieir choice. Documentation of an applicant's acceptance to a school must be attached to the application form.
Establishing a Funding Source
• Direct donations from the membership sent in with their yearly dues.
• Recognize and solicit donors by recording their names on an engraved SILVER OR BRONZE plaque to be exhibited each year at a National, perhaps offering specific amounts in exchange for having a donor's name placed in a specified place on the PLAQUE.
• Memorial donations for Dogs and/or People with names and information printed in the show catalog.
• Fund raisers by online sales, silent auctions and raffles at our Nationals.
• Funds from outside sources designated for Education, such as from the Purina Fund.
• Suggestions and ideas from CCCI members for other fund raising sources will be implemented as the Funding progresses and become established.
• Funds for this purpose are kept in a separate savings account within CCCI treasurer
Allocating Scholarship Funds
Academic Scholarships emphasizes the importance of staying in school. Those juniors graduating from High School and continuing their education at a Trade School, College, or University would be eligible to apply for a $500 or larger amount Grant as funds become available, and decided upon by the Scholarship Committee after an applicant has been accepted into a program of their choice, and shows evidence of the Scholarship going for the intended purpose. With an education, our juniors can support themselves and afford to continue in the sport of dogs.
This would be a onetime only grant as we begin the CCCI Scholarship Program. As funds accumulate in this special account, the Board has the option of either extending the $500 grant for a second year for those who qualify, or offering a larger one time grant up to $1000 providing those funds are available.
Applying for the Funds
For the first two years of the Scholarship Program, the rules for applying for the grant and dollar amount to be awarded for that year will be printed in each issue of Chow Life, thereafter once a year in Chow Life, and on the CCCI Web Site. Hopefully, these incentives will attract Junior Handlers.
• All Grants and Awards will be applied for by written application by the individual themselves, in the form of a short essay of 500 words or less. Essays must meet the basic requirements of correct, grammar and spelling.
• For graduating high school junior handlers applying for a Scholarship, these topics must be addressed in the essay: How they became interested in showing Chows, special achievements they have had, and future plans for staying in the sport.
• Document any educational seminar attended at a Regional or National Show.
• Applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation, meaning someone who knows the Jr. and has observed them showing and working with their chow at local shows, only one of which can be from a parent or family member.
• The application must include conformation that they have been accepted by the school of their choice.
• The applicant must have been actively showing during the actual show year in which the application is made.
Selecting Recipients
All application packets must be sent directly to the Scholarship Committee Chair, and received at least three (3) months before that year's National Show close
Copies of these materials will be forwarded on to committee members for their comments and recommendations. The honoree will be selected in a timely manner and notified through congratulatory letter sent by the corresponding secretary of CCCI, and the Scholarship committee chair.
Honorees will be recognized at the awards banquet for that year. A Jr. Handler will receive an award certificate and a check for the awarded amount made out to the school of acceptance.
Follow Through With Award Winners
To keep Juniors in the sport they need to feel valued and needed. They should be included in club activities. Local breed and obedience clubs have found creative ways for juniors to work at shows, to take responsibility for service projects, and work as team member helping each other practice training and handling skills. We need to search out their talents and interests, and make opportunities for them to be involved at our Regional and National Specialty shows.
Juniors at our National show whether exhibiting chows or not, could do such things as:
• Sing the National Anthem.
• Read the AKC Code of Ethics at the opening of the show, before the first class enters the ring.
• Hand out Welcome Bags.
• Assist at educational seminars by handing out materials.
• Work at the fun match Stewarding and arm-banding.
• Assist at judge's education when appropriate and needed to do such things as stage a dog or hand out materials.
• Assist at obedience and rally rings.
• Assist with trophy displays.
More experienced juniors could work as mentors conducting a study group helping other juniors develop their handling skills.
TIME TABLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SCHOLARSHIP
The Scholarship should be made available as soon funds are available, by announcing to the membership through Chow Life and the CCCI web site in time to apply for the next show year, Januaryl through December 31 of a given show year.
A link for the AKC scholarship program application forms for juniors will be made available for download on the CCCI web site, or the Scholarship Committee Chair.
The Regional Clubs Liaison chair person will keep regional clubs informed regarding scholarships and service opportunities available for our juniors during each show year.
APPLICATION FOR THE CCCI JUNIOR HANDLER STIPEND AWARD
NAME OF THE JUNIOR HANDLER, ____________________ _
ADDRESS: ____________________________ _ PHONE# _____________ _
AGE _______________ DATE OF BIRTH. __________ _
IN A SHORT WRITIEN ESSAY, LIST THE QUALIFICATIONS YOU HAVE FOR THIS STIPEND. INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS STIPEND. BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR EXPERIENCE SHOWING a chow, AND FUTURE CAREER PLANS AS WELL AS PLANS YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH DOGS.
ATIATCH YOUR TWO LETIERS OF RECOMMENDATION TO THE BACK OF THIS APPLICATION FORM. YOU MUST HAVE AT LEAST TWO SPONSORS, THIS MEANS SOMEONE WHO KOWS YOU AND HAS OBSERVED YOUR SHOWING AT SHOWS, A TRAING CLASS INSTRUCTOR,OR A MENTOR. ONLY ONE OF THESE CAN BE A PARENT.
BY SIGNING THIS APPLICATION, YOU AND YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING AND USING THIS STIPEND.
REMEMBER CORRECT GRAMMAR AND SPELLING ARE REQUIRED IN YOUR WRITIEN RESPONSES.
SEND YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS TO: THE SCHOLARSHP COMMITIEE CHAIR PERSON. THE CURRENT NAME AND ADDRESS OF THAT PERSON WILL BE FOUND IN CHOW LIFE, OR GO TO THE CCCI WEB SITE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION.
JUNIOR HANDLER'S SIGNATURE _____________________ _
JUNIOR HANDLER'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN'S SIGNATURE _____________ _
JUNIOR HANDLER SPONSOR'S SIGNATURE __________________ _
YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST THREE (3) MONTHS BEFORE YOU WOULD WANT TO ENTER YOUR FIRST SHOW USING THE STIPEND.