Bradley R. Smith
Memorial Scholarship
Application
Bethel Baptist Church
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This scholarship is in memory of Bradley R. Smith. Brad was born on September 11, 1985. He grew up in Troy and attended Bethel Baptist Church. Brad was involved in the student ministry at Bethel as well as many other activities, in the community and at school. Brad desired to follow Christ as well as lead others to do the same. Brad loved to serve others and after high school, Brad attended SIUE for a short while then joined the Air Force. As part of Brad’s desire to serve, he servedhis country as part of the JTAC team in the Special Operations department. Senior Airman Bradley R. Smith was killed in action in Afghanistan on January 3, 2010. This Scholarship honors the memory of Brad and his love of Christ, Bethel and the surrounding community.
To be considered for a scholarship, you must submit all required information to the church office by 12:00 pm Sunday, April 23, 2017.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
All sections must be completed. Write N/A if question does not apply.
SECTION 1 – BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
INDICATE YOUR STATUS
College Other
_____Entering Freshman _____Voc. Technical School
_____Freshman _____Business School
_____Sophomore _____Community College
_____Junior
_____Senior
Name______
Home Address______Telephone ( )______
Birth date______Sex______Marital Status______
Year of High School Graduation______
High School Graduated From______
Name of High School/College/School Guidance Counselor______
Name of Last School Attended______
Father's Name______Living______Deceased______
Mother's Name______Living______Deceased______
Do you live with both parents? ______
Guardian's Name______Relationship______
Occupation of Father______Mother______Guardian______
When Did You Join Bethel? Month______Year______
SECTION 2 – EDUCATION AND CAREER GOALS STATEMENT
GPA: ______
Name of college/school you are planning to attend/attending______
In what city and state is this college/school located? ______
Name of church you are planning to/are attending while at school? ______
Have you already been accepted to this college/school?Yes _____No _____
If you have chosen a major, indicate your choice(s): ______
SECTION 3 –MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT
A. List church/campusministries in which you have been actively involved, in the last two years, at Bethel or church near your college/school, or campus ministry, towards spiritual growth. May include Sunday School, Bible studies, etc. Give name of Sponsor or Leader.
Ministry/Church Name: (SIUE BSM, Bethel youth group, etc.) / # of Years / Sponsor/Leader:B. List and describe volunteer activities in which you have been involved in your community, church, school, etc., within the last two years, as well as the group or organization working with.
Activity / How you participated / Dates (From-To) / Group/OrganizationC. Please list below the names of the church-related activities/events at Bethel or church near your college/school, you were aparticipantinduring the past two years. This list could include retreats, camps, lock-ins, mission trips, and conferences.
Name of Activity or Event Date (Month/Year) Church, City and State
1. ______
2. ______
3. ______
4. ______
5. ______
6. ______
7. ______
8. ______
9. ______
10. ______
SECTION 4–AWARDS/HONORS AND WORK HISTORY
A. List honors,acknowledgements, or awards you have received (academic, athletic, community, church, etc.) within the last three years:
Honors/Acknowledgements/Awards Year / Honors/Acknowledgements/Awards YearB. List and describe any work experience: Include phone number
Employer/Dates/Phone Number / Position Held / DutiesSECTION 5–ESSAY
A. Provide a short essay describing what it means to have a spiritually healthy relationship with God and how that affects your everyday life as a follower of Christ. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, and four to five hundred words. Essays will be graded on subject, development of essay, flow, sentence length, vocabulary, grammar/spelling and length. Please email essay, as an attached Word document to .
SECTION 6–LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
A. Two letters of recommendation from adults, who are not relatives, must accompany this application. Only one of the recommendations may be from a pastor. Recommendations should mention the Bradley R. Smith scholarship; provide observations about your ability, leadership and potential. Please have references email recommendation letters,as a pdf or word documentto , with your full name and scholarship name in the heading.
By signing this application below, I do hereby acknowledge that the information provided in this application, to the Scholarship Committee of Bethel Baptist Church, is true and accurate. I also acknowledge that if information within this application is found to be false, I will be disqualified from receiving a scholarship, and will require a meeting with the scholarship committee.
Signature of Applicant ______Date ______
Signature of Parent/Guardian ______Date ______
BRADLEY R. SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLORSHIP
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Dear Scholarship Committee:
As a scholarship recipient, I understand that I must enroll and remain in a school of higher learning for the entire quarter/semester, and/or school year the scholarship award funds. If for some reason I do not complete the entire quarter/semester, I will refund to the Bradley R. Smith Memorial Fund that portion of the scholarship refunded by the college/university/school.
If there are mitigating circumstances that I, as a recipient of a scholarship award, have no control over, the scholarship award will be reinstated.
______
(Scholarship Recipient) Print (Scholarship Recipient) Signature
______
(Parent or Guardian) Print (Parent or Guardian) Signature
______
(Date)
BRADLEY R. SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLORSHIP
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Dear Principal or Academic Advisor:
I______, do hereby acknowledge that the Scholarship Committee of
Bethel Baptist Church is seeking information relative to my academic performance. Therefore, in accordance with any and all applicable laws, rules, or regulation, I hereby approve the release of the information requested below for consideration by the Bradley R. Smith Memorial Scholarship Committee:
Signature______
******************************************************************************************
(PLEASE PRINT)
Student ______
Home Address ______
Telephone ( )______
High School or College______
Address Zip Code
Academic Advisor______
******************************************************************************************
(To be completed by School Advisor)
Student’s Cumulative Grade Point Average
For graduating seniors, please provide average up to date of application.
If applicant is not a graduating high school senior and is a current college student, a copy of their transcripts are required,at least the last two semesters he/she has attended.
______
______
Signature of Academic Advisor
BRADLEY R. SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLORSHIP
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
I.OVERVIEW
Gary and Paula Smith, father and mother of Bradley R. Smith, implemented a Scholarship Program for Bethel Baptist Church student members that are current college students, or applying as a college freshman. Funds for the Scholarship are provided through the Bradley R. Smith Memorial 5K Run/Walk. A Scholarship Committee, appointed by the Smith’s, administer the program.
II.DUTIES OF COMMITTEE
A.To set up guidelines governing the Scholarship Program.
B.To design instruments for evaluating applicants in an objective manner.
C.To annually publicize the scholarship program.
D.To annually select the top four applicants based on a set of objective criteria.
E.To periodically evaluate, and revise the scholarship program and application.
III. FINANCING OF PROGRAM
Money is generated from the Bradley R Smith Memorial 5k Run/Walk.
IV.NUMBER OF SCHOLAESHIPS GIVEN, AND THE SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS
There will be awarded (1) $2500, (1) $1500, and (2) $1000 scholarships.
V. REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS
Applicants Must Meet All Requirements.
A.Must be a member of Bethel Baptist Church for at least one full year.
B.Must be faithful in attendance andactive in ministry and service at Bethel Baptist or a Bible believing, evangelical congregation where attending college/school.
C. Must be a high school graduate or current college student no older than 25 at awarding of scholarship.
D.Must be enrolled or have plans of enrolling in a university, college or vocational school.
E.Must use funds for undergraduate studies.
F.Must have a grade point average of at least 2.5 (C).
VI. PROCEDURE/POLICY
A.The committee evaluates each applicant based on a set of criteria previously adopted by the committee.
B.Other than grade point averages, the information reported on the application is classified as being true. Designated points are given for educational background, church/community participation, written essay and neatly submitted applications.
C.After points are totaled for each applicant, the applicant's name and his/her total points are listed and the recipients are announced. No committee member can determine the recipients until all applicants' points have been totaled.
D.The names of the scholarship recipients are withheld until the Sunday that the scholarships are awarded.
E.The recipients of the scholarships will receive the scholarship upon the presentation of verification that he/she is accepted in school.
F.Recipients of a scholarship must enroll and remain in a school of higher learning for the entire quarter, semester, and/or school year. If not, funds will be forfeited and must be returned to The Bradley R. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund. If there are mitigating circumstances that a recipient has no control over, the scholarship award will be reinstated.
G. Funds will be distributed directly to student or school upon verification of enrollment.
H.Applications must be returned by 12:00 p.m. on the deadline date, Sunday, April 17, 2016.
VII. CRITERIA FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP
The recipient must:
1.Be a member of Bethel Baptist Church for at least one full year.
2.Have a 2.5 (C) or above cumulative GPA average.
3.Have been active in ministries, service, Sunday School, etc.
4.Must be a high school graduate or current college student no older than 25 at awarding of scholarship.
VIII. GUIDELINES FOR AWARDING SCHOLARSHIP
A.All interested persons must fill out an application and mail, bring the application to Bethel Baptist Church, or email to by the deadline set by the scholarship committee. If mailed, envelopes should be addressed to the scholarship committee, attention to John Shaw.
B.After all information is received from references and schools; the committee meets to determine the recipients of the scholarship. Scholarship winners will be announced in May of the scholarship year.
IX.PENALTIES
Incomplete or messy (unreadable, sloppy hand writing, multiple corrections, misspellings, etc.) applications will be penalized.
—STEPS THAT NEED YOUR ATTENTION—
1. Applications may be typed except where signatures are required.
2.Please fill out every blank in your scholarship application (Use N/A for blanks that do not apply). This includes complete addresses and zip codes. Incomplete applications will be penalized.
3.Please sign the form that authorizes the committee to verify your grades from your respective schools (please supply addresses and zip codes). If your school gives you a transcript with your GPA on it, you may attach a copy of that.
4.When applications are returned, letters are sent to respective high schools verifying each applicant's grade point average. If applicant is not a recent high school graduate, transcripts are required for the last two semesters that he/she attended.
5.On the sheet listing the church-related activities, please be specific with names of activities, dates and locations of activities. You will be penalized if you are not specific.
6. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced, and four hundred to five hundredwords. Essays will be graded on subject, development of essay, flow, sentence length, vocabulary, grammar/spelling and length. Please email essay, as an attached Word document to .
7. Please have references email recommendation letters to with your full name, and name of scholarship, in the heading.
8.The application is also available online at. Go to the student or college page. There is a link to the application, in the navigation, on the right side of the screen.
9.Applications and references must be delivered, or emailed by 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2016. NO EXCEPTIONS!
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