sycamore community Service leadership award
Each year, thousands of Hoosier high school students demonstrate their compassion for their neighbors and commitment to solving problems in their communities by engaging in voluntary service. The Sycamore Community Service Leadership Award recognizes high schools whose students and faculty have collectively demonstrated such exemplary community service. This new award program is designed to publicly acknowledge the contributions that high school students make in their communities, as well as the state and nation, through service. The program also recognizes best practices of high schools.
The current award recognizes community service contributions during the period of June 2008 through May 2009. Eight semi-finalists and one award winner will be recognized at an awards luncheon in Indianapolis in October 2009. Cash awards in the amount of $1000 for the winner and $500 for the semi-finalists will be granted to the schools to further enhance their community service efforts. All nine schools will also be eligible to award a Sycamore Service Scholarship to one graduating senior who will attend Indiana State University. This $1000 scholarship recognizes outstanding leadership in community service and is renewable for up to four years.
Nomination Form (PDF)
Eligibility
All public and private high schools, grades 9 - 12, in Indiana are eligible to apply.
Criteria
Award applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Evidence of student leadership. Describe the extent to which your schools' community service activities are led by students.
- Evidence of community impact. How did your project(s) make the community a better place to live? Describe the impact of your service on individuals and organizations within the community.
- Evidence of commitment of school faculty and staff to using community service as a pathway to learning. To what extent has your school made community service an integral part of your students' education?
- Evidence of widespread student involvement. What percentage of students at your school are involved in community service?
For the purpose of this award program, community service refers to service activities that are intended to improve the quality of life for individuals in the local community or other geographic areas. Community service includes service-learning activities that are associated with a class and co-curricular student volunteer activities that are independent of the curriculum, but still associated with the school. Direct service (tutoring, mentoring, etc.) and indirect service (fundraising, painting a facility, landscaping a park, etc.) are both considered community service.
Important Dates
Applications Due - June 2009
Award Notification - September 2009
The Sycamore Community Service Leadership Award is sponsored by Indiana State University and Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman in conjunction with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.