Matching Scholars and Donors Brings Its Own Rewards

All recognition programs share a commitment to honoring achievement and promoting opportunity, but each has unique goals and preferences. RPS provides tailored programs to specifically meet individual clients’ requirements.

“Each corporation or foundation has its own vision,” said Anjie Swingle, RPS director. “Some programs want help designing the application, some are interested in ACT’s psychometric capabilities. Our job is to do whatever it takes to help them find the scholars who exemplify their mission.”

As a leading provider of education and workforce programs worldwide, ACT has built a strong reputation for its commitment to excellent service. Clients rely on RPS for expertise in program operations, research, psychometrics, systems design, telecommunications, and computer technologies to support their programs in all phases of development and implementation.

RPS currently manages about two dozen programs for 17 clients. In the last fiscal year, the staff processed 21,000 paper applications, managed websites that accepted another 18,000 online applications, and distributed $10.5 million in awards.

“We get a double reward: We help students find scholarships and help the foundations find the scholars they want to recognize,” Swingle said.

Among RPS clients are several high-profile national programs, including the following.

The James Madison Fellowships

Created to honor the legacy and principles of the founding father and fourth U.S. president, the James Madison Fellowships provide financial support for graduate study that focuses on the Constitution—both its history and its contemporary relevance to the practices and policies of democratic government. The fellowships support graduate study leading to a master’s degree from any accredited institution in the United States. The maximum amount of each award is $24,000. Awards cover the actual costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board. After earning one of the preferred master’s degrees, each James Madison fellow must teach American history, American government, or social studies in grades 7–12 for no less than one year for each full academic year of study under the fellowship. As part of the James Madison Fellowship program, each fellow attends a four-week summer institute on the Constitution at Georgetown University. Full program details are available at www.jamesmadison.com

Wendy’s High School Heisman

Setting the standard for high school seniors, the Wendy’s High School Heisman program annually recognizes the nation’s most accomplished high school seniors for excellence in academics, community service, and athletics. Wendy’s late founder, Dave Thomas, created this award in partnership with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee, which annually honors one outstanding college football player. Principals, guidance counselors, and coaches at all U.S. high schools are asked to nominate one male and one female student who are active in any of the 32 sports sanctioned by the National Federation of State High Schools. Nominees are judged on their academic achievements, community service involvement, and athletic accomplishments. State and national finalists are selected each fall. Complete program details can be found at www.wendysheisman.com

Dell Scholars Program

Funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to helping young adults achieve their potential, the Dell Scholars Program offers an opportunity for underserved and lower-income students to go to college. The $20,000 scholarships are offered to high school seniors for full-time study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited college or university of their choice.

The Dell Scholars Program emphasizes a student’s determination to succeed over academic records or test scores. To encourage thorough preparation, the program requires that students participate in an approved college readiness program, have a high school GPA of 2.4 or higher, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a demonstrable need for financial assistance. More information is available at www.dellscholars.org

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship

Sponsored by the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, this scholarship is designed to attract outstanding students to careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit to students who are college sophomores or juniors during the current academic year, who have excellent academic records, and who have demonstrated interest in and potential for careers in these fields. The scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board to a maximum of $7,500 per academic year. Junior scholarship recipients can expect to receive a maximum of two years of scholarship support, while senior scholarship recipients are eligible for a maximum of one year of scholarship support. For information regarding the program and application materials, visit the website at www.act.org/goldwater or e-mail goldwater@act.org.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is the nation’s leading organization supporting Hispanic college students. In support of its goal to double the rate of Hispanics earning college degrees, HSF provides the Hispanic community with more college scholarships and educational outreach support than any other organization in the country. During its 29-year history, HSF has awarded more than 68,000 scholarships—more than $144 million—to students from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Recipients have attended more than 1,700 colleges and universities. For more information on scholarship opportunities for Hispanic Americans, including general eligibility guidelines, go to www.hsf.net or call 1-877-HSF-INFO.

Colonel’s Kids Scholars Program

Sponsored by the Colonel’s Kids™ Charity, a national charity funded by KFC^®, this national competition is open to high school seniors committed to attending a public college or university in their state of residence. The program emphasizes community involvement, leadership, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board up to $5,000 per academic year, renewable for four years. Scholars must work toward a four-year degree and participate in one internship during their tenure as a Colonel’s Kids Scholar. Each scholar also must work an average of 10 hours per week, beginning in the sophomore year, and maintain a satisfactory academic record. Online applications are available February 15, with an application deadline date of March 31, 2006. For more information, go to www.kfcscholars.org

To learn more about ACT’s scholarship management services, call 319/341-2363, e-mail rps@act.org or go to www.act.org/recognition/index.html