Sumner Kimball
The Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station will offer the $300 Kimball Memorial Scholarship to a homeschool graduate for use during the 2012/2013 school year.
Since most colleges and many organizations subtract the writing scores from SAT and ACT results when considering scholarship applications, we’re again attempting to even the score by offering an advantage to those who did well in that category. We believe writing to be a most important skill! For this reason, we are inviting those who scored highest in the writing category of the SAT or ACT to apply for this scholarship without having to write an essay.*
Our goal is to compensate for some of the typical scholarship requirements that we think are unfair to homeschoolers. Thus, our application process is flexible. You may answer as few or as many of the questions on the application as you wish. You may add or attach anything you want to your application (although it will not be returned to you). We of course do not ask for class rank, and we do not base the scholarship on grades. We don’t expect to see that you were class president, or that you were a member of school clubs. We do not require personal information, even your transcript, unless you are selected as the winner.
Eligibility:
- Must have homeschooled for at least three years in high school, and have received a homeschool diploma.
- Must have been actively involved in community service throughout high school.
- Must be accepted into a college, university or other educational organization for the 2012/2013 school year.
- Must currently be a high school senior or enrolled in college.
Requirements:
- Complete the application form. (If you are not able to open this form, please email us and we will send one that you can.)
- Submit an essay or other artistic work. See below for subject options. (Optional requirement for some)*
- Submit three to five letters of recommendation. One may be from a parent. The letters do not need to have been written specifically for this application.
- Be prepared to submit a high school transcript, and acceptance letter from the school, if selected.
Essay or other creative work: What you choose to do is flexible, but should in some way relate to the U.S. Life Saving Service, shipwrecks or the U.S. Coast Guard. Use your imagination! Everyone who receives an honorable mention for this requirement will have the option of having their work published on the Web site. They will also be entered into a drawing for a week’s stay at the Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station.
Some ideas to consider:
A short story (fiction or non-fiction) about someone living or serving at a Life Saving Station or someone involved in a shipwreck.
An original drawing depicting some aspect of the Life Saving Service or a shipwreck.
A game or video having to do with the Life Saving Service.
A short history of the Life Saving Service, the Coast Guard, or a shipwreck.
Deadline: Must be postmarked by May 15, 2012. If you provide an email address on your application, we’ll email you to let you know your application has arrived. Mail to: Klipsan Beach Life Saving Station, 22409 Pacific Highway, Ocean Park, WA 98640.
Selection criteria: We don’t want you to waste your time applying for a scholarship that isn’t the right fit, so here’s what we’ll be looking for. Community involvement and volunteer service is huge. If you’ve been holed up in your room throughout high school, focusing on yourself and your grades, this scholarship is probably not the best one for you. Involvement in scouting, AWANA, mission trips and similar activities will be a plus. A creative essay or other artistic work may be what makes you stand out above all the others.
*We realize that some great writers may have found it difficult to hand-write a timed essay during the SAT or ACT test, and we don’t want to penalize them. They are welcome to apply, but the essay portion of the application will be required, and not optional. Those who choose to apply without submitting an essay or other creative work must submit their SAT or ACT scores, showing the writing score to be the highest.
Have questions? Email us!
†Please note that the requirements and criteria for submission are subject to change at any time.
Our 2011 winner and finalists
The winner of the $300 scholarship was Benjamin Houde of Topsham, ME.
Four finalists received a $25 gift card to Amazon.com. They are:
Amy Mack of Pine Mountain, CA
Eli Palomares of Phoenix, AZ
Trevor Uptain of Mount Vernon, WA
Lydia Wassink of Grand Rapids, MI
