Page 8 - Gears & Ears May 2015

Gears and Ears

Journal of the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista

Page 8 May 2015
The Boardman Scholarship

The Boardman Scholarship was awarded by Harry
himself during our April 2nd meeting to Kimberly
James based on her previous participation in RYLA
and Relay for Life, the personal knowledge of and

contact with Kimberly by club members, and the
academic achievements detailed in the following
application letter:

Dear Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista,

My name is Kimberly James, and I’m currently a student attending my senior year at Ridge Community High
School in Davenport. Some of you may know me from my participation in your Relay for Life event, in which I’ve worked
personally with Eddie Fernandez and Marti Treischmann. Some of you may remember me from my past visit to thank you
all for sponsoring me to go to RYLA in 2013, an experience that I’m greatful for and that led to me getting my first job with
Florida Elks Youth Camp.

Well, I’m reaching out to you today to ask for any available scholarships you may have to offer. The time is coming
up for me to put in my final decisions for college, and I’m working very hard to get any scholarships I can manage to help
me get there. Unfortunately I’m on my own for college tuition at this point, my dad is financially unable to help my sister
(currently attending the University of Cincinnati), myself, or my brother (who will go to college next year) pay for college
costs. I’ve been accepted to Florida Southern College and their Technical Theatre B.F.A. Program, with substantial merit
and talent-based scholarships. However, these will not be enough to help me pull through.

“Why does she deserve any scholarships?” You may be wondering silently as you’re reading this letter. Well, I’m
a student and community leader, for starters. I’ve done over two hundred hours of community service in the past two years
I’ve been in Florida alone, helping out with Relay, school events, and the local rec center. I’m a leader in school organizations
like National Honor Society, Student Council, International Thespians Society, and several other smaller clubs on campus.
I’m in the top 15% of my graduating class and I have a 3.6 un-weighted GPA (3.9 weighted). When I graduate I will have
over 30 credits when I need only 24 to graduate due to my early initiatives to start high school. I’ll also be leaving high
school with 27 credit hours ready for college, and a 3.6 college GPA thanks to my Dual Enrollment classes.

I know those are a lot of numbers and statistics to take in. But there’s another reason I deserve a scholarship. I
have a passion to make magic happen on the stage, and I can’t follow my dream and apply my passion effectively without
going to college. I have done costume work for 10 different stage productions with school and nothing compares to seeing
my work in action.

I thank you all for any consideration you give me, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

Kimberly James