Leigh Charlton, Reporter
@leighcourant
On Sunday, April 3, NCHS students will team up to collect anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000 in donations from businesses and residents of New Canaan. The funds that they receive will be delivered directly to the Scholarship Foundation, where the Grant and Aid committee will review student applications and distribute scholarships on a financial-need basis. This money typically benefits between 50 and 75 New Canaan students, far more than most NCHS students realize are in need of financial aid.
Scholarship Sunday is dependent upon the success of student volunteers. “Everybody comes to the school at noon,” Co-Chair of the Scholarship Foundation Lisa Isherwood said. “We provide a great lunch. We have sub sandwiches, chips, water and other drinks, brownies and cookies. You get a t-shirt, you enter a raffle, and then you go with a group of friends, either of your choosing, or we can match you up with people- to get a route that you will either drive or walk through with your friends. You go door-to-door with a script to help you tell residents what you’re doing and what you’re doing it for.”
In addition to the traditional motivational video, the Friday assembly before the scholarship drive will also include a personal touch. “This year we are very happy to say that, for the first time ever, I have a male and a female that were recipients of the scholarship and they’re both coming to speak on April 1 at the assembly,” Therese Chaisson, Administrative Director of the Scholarship Foundation, said. “I’m hopeful that they can encourage participation, because they we very upset when they heard how few students signed up last year.”
Sign-ups for the annual Scholarship Drive open from 10:45 am to 12:30 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the cafeteria during the week of March 28. “The week before the Sunday drive, they will have tables set up in the cafeteria for kids to come and sign up, pledging that they will be there,” Ms. Chaisson said. “Last year, we had probably about 175 kids that pledged to show up and only eighty showed.”
As many student volunteers as possible are encouraged. “I am hoping that we can triple the number of students that show up,” Ms. Chaisson said. “We are a student body of 1300, so why can’t we have 200 kids or so? The more of the town that we can cover, the more that we can collect. The families of New Canaan know that we are coming on Sunday.”
With fewer student volunteers, the amount of money that the Scholarship Foundation receives declines. “Last year was down, so we had to drop our figures quite a bit,” Ms. Chaisson said. “We used to be able to give anywhere from $500 to $7000. Last year we had to drop to $500 to $2000.”
While some may believe that in wealthy towns like New Canaan students do not need financial aid, this is not always the case. “I don’t think that the kids realize that there is a lot of financial need in this town,” Ms. Chaisson said. If you have more than one child in college now- and colleges are close to $60,000 a year for tuition- it’s difficult when you’re trying to make these payments. If students are not getting enough scholarships or loans, it becomes a problem.”
Parent volunteers believe that the experience is beneficial not only for the students who will receive scholarships but also for those who help to collect them. “The kids that volunteer beginning freshman year always come back, usually all four years, depending on their availability,” Ms. Isherwood said. “The kids that come out freshman year always return. They try to come out every year. I know that they definitely benefit from it. I think that it is a positive experience, whether you are a student who needs a scholarship or not. It always helps to feel like you are doing something for your fellow students.”
Those looking to be even more involved in the Scholarship Drive can contribute by joining the Student Leaders division of the foundation. “If you would like to be on the scholarship committee, please let us know and I’ll pass your name along,” Ms. Chaisson said. “These kids go around to the businesses and bring envelopes to do a follow-up. They each stop at two stores and ask them to give a little bit. The scholarship committee will get in touch with them. They will help distribute the t-shirts and organize the Sunday drive.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Scholarship Foundation also encourages seniors and college students to continue to apply for grants. “I don’t think that kids realize that they can apply during all four years of college. That’s very important,” Ms. Chaisson said. “You can still come back and apply, all four years. The first two years it’s a full grant. The second two years, it’s 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan. We don’t charge any interest.”
Application forms are available online and are to be submitted to Registrar Lisa Granite in the guidance office. “This year only eight graduating seniors have applied thus far,” Ms. Granite said. “I’m sure that there are students out there who could use the money.”
Come Sunday, April 1, you can expect to see Scholarship Drive volunteers walking the streets of New Canaan. “We will be there,” Ms. Chaisson said. “We’ll be knocking at your door.”
