S.A.T. GUIDELINES
To the Student:
In 1984, a group of concerned educators and business people met to discuss the educational arena of Onslow County. It was from this group of people that Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. was formed. They wanted to encourage and promote academic excellence by offering scholarships to worthy students. These scholarships have nothing to do with financial need; it does not matter what your parents do. It does not matter if you are male or female or what is your race or religious affiliation. All that matters is what YOU do.
Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. places a great deal of faith in you. Think about what they offer. Every student who meets the requirements outlined in this booklet is guaranteed a $500 or $1000 scholarship. That means if every student in your graduating class meets the requirements, each of them will receive a scholarship. Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. raises tens of thousands of dollars each year to make these scholarships possible. There is no competition and no waiting to see if you win or not. You will know, because YOU and you alone control your actions. You will know far in advance if you have completed the requirements. Your SAT coordinator is there to guide you and answer your questions, BUT it is your responsibility to keep in touch with the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator in your school.
The people of Onslow County comprise Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. They are responsible for its existence, its organization and its continuation. Thousands of dollars are donated to this program each and every year by individuals, businesses, and civic groups of Onslow County. Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. is a private foundation which raises the scholarship money and determines the policies for scholarship attainment. We are unique. We believe in you. We believe investing in your future is an investment in the future of Onslow County.
Eligibility:
Any student enrolled in one of the seven Onslow County High Schools who meets the requirements shall be eligible.
Requirements:
1) Have a cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 on a weighted scale at the end Of the 1stsemester of the senior year.
2) Earn a composite score of 1100 or higher on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) in reading and math only or a combined score of 23 on the ACT.
3) Complete required English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language courses required for the North Carolina Scholars Diploma
4) Perform 75 hours of community service for a $500 scholarship and 100 hours of community service for $1000 scholarship. (must be approved by the Executive Director)
Method of Award:
The scholarship is to be used at any accredited college of the student's choice. The award will be sent directly to the institution in August of the year the student graduates. If the student does not matriculate in August or January following high school graduation, he/she shall forfeit the scholarship.
Application:
The student is responsible for proper completion, documentation, and submission of community service hours to the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator. It is the student's responsibility to ensure he/she is eligible for the scholarship. An application can be downloaded from the website. The application must be signed and verified by the SAT Coordinator.
Grade Point Average:
A student graduating must have a cumulative average of 3.5 on a weighted scale at the end of the first semester of the senior year.
SAT Scores: A student must earn a composite score of 1100 or higher on the SAT. The composite score may be determined by combining the math test score from one test date and the verbal test score from another test date, as long as the composite score is at or above the required level of 1100. The SAT administered in January of the senior is the last score accepted to qualify for this scholarship.
Transfer Students:
Students who qualify for the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. scholarship must be enrolled in one of the Onslow County high schools for their entire senior year. A student who transfers from a high school outside the Onslow County School System during his/her senior year will be ineligible. Students who transfer prior to their senior year must meet the full requirements for the scholarship.
Appeal:
If for some reason a student 1) has extenuating circumstances which prevent him/her from matriculating within two semesters after graduation, 2) feels an error has occurred in determining SAT scores or GPA, or 3) feels an error in computing community service hours has occurred, he/she may present his/her case to the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall arrange an Appeals Committee consisting of three members of the Sponsors For Academic Talent, Inc. Board of Directors. These three shall be selected randomly and none will be involved with the circumstances of the student who is appealing. An appeal must be made within thirty (30) days of the decision that is being appealed. The decision of the Appeals Committee is final.
Community Service:
Test For Determining Community Service Hours:
1. Does the community service activity take place outside the regular school day?
2. Does the community service activity benefit the general community?
3. Does the community service activity take place in Onslow County? (For the purpose of this test, Camp Lejeune is not considered to be a part of Onslow County.)
4. Is responsible adult supervision present during the community service activity?
5. Will the participant receive some other award, certificate or recognition for the community service activity? (Merit badge, class credit, club membership, etc.)
If the answer to questions 1 - 4 is ‘yes' and the answer to question 5 is ‘no', it is reasonable to assume the activity will be approved. It is imperative that you have prior approval. If your activity does not completely meet this test, it may still get special approval. You or your Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator may contact the Executive Director to determine if a specific activity can be approved. Do not perform hours without prior approval and expect them to be counted. The Executive Director will grant only prior approval, no ex post facto approval.
Community Service Guidelines:
A student must accumulate a minimum of 75 hours of community service. All service must be on a volunteer basis for a non-profit organization based in Onslow County. A list of acceptable agencies for which a student may volunteer is available in this publication and from school authorities. Students must receive the signature of the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator before the Executive Director will grant approval. If the agency for which a student wishes to work is not on the list, prior approval of the Executive Director is MANDATORY. Upon completion of the hours of service, the student has thirty (30) days to turn in notification of the hours to the school Sponsors of Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator. Note: The only exception is hours that are performed during the summer. Summer hours must be given to the Sponsors of Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator within one week of returning to school for them to be counted. You can obtain a form for this purpose from your Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator, from the agency, or download it. Students may begin to accumulate community service hours the summer prior to their sophomore year. No more than eight (8) hours of service in any twenty-four hour non-school day will be accepted. No more than four (4) hours service in any twenty-four hour school day will be accepted. There will be NO exceptions to this rule. A total of 20 hours of service must be completed by the student during the senior year. (The senior year starts the day after the junior year ends.)
Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinators will submit, at the end of each semester, to the Executive Director, a record of each future scholar's hours performed. It is your responsibility to provide your Coordinator with documentation of your hours of service in a timely manner. Documentation of community service hours performed shall be verified by person(s) not related to the potential scholar. (A STUDENT MUST PERFORM A MINIMUM OF 75 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE FOR THE $500 SCHOLARSHIP AND 100 HOURS FOR THE $1000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR AN APPROVED AGENCY.)
Church and School Activities:
(May be used for the $500 scholarship ONLY) Events sponsored by the school or an agency of the school must be for the good of the general public in order for students to earn community service hours. (Exceptions will be tutoring which must be under the supervision of a teacher and approved by the Executive Director.)
A maximum total of 35 hours of combined service for school-related services and church-related service may be awarded. Remember: all activities performed are to be for the good of the general public.
Examples of activities that would be acceptable as part of school sponsored activities would be: cleaning up a highway or visiting a nursing home, serving as an usher at a concert, performance at a school play, performance with the Community Band or Community Chorus, directing traffic at a play or an athletic event and working concessions during an athletic event. Note: If the concession stand is a project of the school/Booster's Club the hours will be counted as school hours and may not exceed 35 hours.
Activities that would not be acceptable would include: (1) announcing a football game, (2) keeping statistics for any athletic event, (3) selling items for club activities, (4) working for an individual teacher, counselor, or administrator at any school, (5) working in Special Olympics during the school day, (6) practice hours for a school play, (7) practice for the Community Band or Community Choir, (8) teaching or assisting in Sunday school or, (9) singing in the church choir or youth choir.
Political Organizations:
Volunteer work with a political organization may be counted only if the party develops and submits a plan of activities for the student to the Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Executive Director. The activity is to be for the benefit of the general public, not based along political lines. (Telephone solicitation alone would not meet the requirements.) This plan must be submitted to the Executive Director for approval prior to the hours of service being performed.
Acceptable Types of Service:
The following are examples of service that would be recognized by Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. as acceptable for community service
• running booths, etc. at a community festival (Mullet, Shrimp, Farmer's Day, Heritage)
• candy striper volunteer
• collecting for Christmas Cheer, serving Meals on Wheels, etc.
• volunteer work for a service agency such as Council on Aging, Women's Shelter, PEERS
Unacceptable Types of Service:
• participation of any kind in a pageant such as Miss Jacksonville, Young American Miss, etc.
• serving as a page in the state government
• practice hours for a charity-sponsored athletic event (hours for the actual event will be honored)
• work for an individual teacher, principal, counselor • work that earns credit for a class, merit badge or membership in a club
• work which is unsupervised by an adult
• practice hours for a community event (hours for the actual event will be honored)
DEADLINES:
Seniors:
The last day volunteer service hours may be submitted to the SAT coordinator is THE LAST DAY OF JANUARY. It is the scholar's responsibility to heed this deadline. The Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator will keep your earned hours on file and forward a copy to the Executive Director. It is your responsibility to submit your hours to your Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator. Hours which are not submitted in a timely manner will not be accepted by the Coordinator.
Philosophy of Community Service:
The community service should be for the benefit of the community rather than an individual. Always seek prior approval through your Sponsors for Academic Talent, Inc. Coordinator and the Executive Director. If you are unsure if an activity will be considered for community service hours, contact the Executive director. We want you to earn this scholarship; community service hours should not pose a problem. We receive phone calls every week seeking volunteers. We believe volunteerism is a fundamental part of life. The requirement for community service is designed to foster that attitude. North Carolina Scholars Program This program, established by the state Board of Education in 1983, is designed to reward you for your academic achievements in school. You will receive a special seal of recognition on your diploma when you graduate signifying that you are a scholar as defined by the State of North Carolina. You can obtain the requirements of the North Carolina Scholars Program from your guidance counselor. He/she can help you select the courses you must take in high school to earn the scholar's diploma. Students are encouraged to pursue the North Carolina Scholars diploma, however this diploma is not a requirement for the SAT Scholarship.