Scholarship Selection Criteria
The Charger Pride Scholarship Foundation, Inc., awards scholarships to deserving Memorial High School seniors to facilitate their pursuit of a college degree or career training. It is the goal of the Foundation to support as many students as possible, working within the limitations of its funding. At the same time, the Foundation seeks to recognize students whose individual excellence sets them apart from their peers; those students may receive larger scholarship awards.
Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic merit, character, leadership, service to others, and a demonstrated focus on achieving a college degree. These factors are not equally weighted—exemplary performance in one area can overcome a deficiency in another. Some of the elements of these factors are:
Academic Merit
- Academic standing and standardized test scores.
- The pursuit of learning experiences outside the classroom.
- Due recognition is given to individual growth—students who struggled early in high school are nonetheless worthy of consideration if their more recent academic performance reflects that they have identified their weaknesses and are determined to address them.
- A demonstrated ability to identify and overcome challenges; and
- A genuine recognition of the extent to which others have contributed to their success, and how.
- Experience in formal leadership roles such as team captain, student body president, and other elected officer positions in the school or community;
- Exceptional success or aptitude in chosen fields of study; or
- Demonstrated responsibility in family, or outside employment.
- Firm college plans; and
- Evident college preparedness.
- Real, substantive involvement in service to others. We do not regard volunteerism or service to others as a requirement to receive a scholarship—but when it is evident we think it is something to be commended and a factor in the student’s favor.
- Candidates will be recognized on the quality and extent of their service to others, not the quantity of service organizations with whom they are associated.
