Take Stock In Children Reports to Kiwanis, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009 

  At the weekly club luncheon on Tuesday, August 11th, the Kiwanis Club received a comprehensive briefing on the Take Stock In Children (TSIC) program operated by the Washington County Scholarship Foundation, Inc.  In addition to a video presentation that explains the program in some detail that can be provided to potential donors, David Solger, president of the Foundation, presented opening and closing remarks, Terry Sullivan, the Student Advocate at Chipley High School and also a student mentor introduced Stephanie Calix, a recent CHS graduate now enrolled at Chipola.

Stephanie Calix (at left) graduated from CHS this year and had been dual enrolled at Chipola for advanced math courses.  She was selected for the TSIC program early in her high school career.  Not only did Stephanie exceed all performance standards for the scholarship but had a 3.96 grade average, and she was active in school clubs and events in addition to the extra course work at Chipola.  Stephanie plans to become a civil engineer, and hopefully will return to Washington County for her engineering career. 

To participate in the Take Stock In Children program, the student and parents sign a written agreement that sets minimum performance standards.  Students can be selected as early as 6th grade and the signed agreement guarantees a 120 hour scholarship at any Florida college, university, or technical center to pursue post high school education.  By performing all the obligations of the written agreement the student receives the scholarship upon high school graduation.

Applications for participation in the Take Stock In Children program are due at the Washington County Scholarship Foundation by September 30th and students selected for the written agreement and scholarship upon high school graduation will be announced in November.  Contact school guidance counselors for applications or call David Solger at 638-1276 for more details. 

Catherine Nelson, daughter of the late Kiwanian Farrell Nelson who was a community leader on education issues for decades, and his grand-daughter, Janea Holland, attended the meeting to acknowledge donations made in Mr. Nelson’s memory that will be used to create a Farrell Nelson Memorial Scholarship as part of the TSIC program.

 

 

 

During the meeting today, Kiwanis also inducted two new members.  Betty Abdale and Vince Spencer, who have both been active in community service clubs before moving to Chipley.