CBS-Sign-upEvents
College Bound Scholarship
HOW TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICTWIDE SIGN-UP EVENT
(May be modified for a schoolwide event)
INVITATIONS
- Send eligible families invitations from school and superintendent or the HECB.
- Translate materials into languages represented in district.
- Follow-up with automated telephone messages 3 – 5 days prior to event.
- Contact local media; invite dignitaries (mayor, congressional representatives, school superintendent and board members, etc.).
TIMING/LOCATION/FACILITIES
- Start planning one month in advance of event - conference calls are convenient and inexpensive.
- Ensure there are no conflicting events in the district; synchronize with flow of academic year.
- Choose a location accessible to local middle schools and on a bus line.
- Time event to coincide with bus schedules.
- Have computer labs available to sign-up students.
- Provide refreshments (ice cream social, muffins and juice, pizza, sub sandwiches, etc.); solicit donations from local businesses to keep costs down.
- Raffle items (grocery gift cards, movie tickets, etc.); this is a good way to track attendance and keep families throughout the event.
PROGRAM SUGGESTIONS
- Motivational speaker to stress the importance of college.
- Student panel of alumni from local middle schools who are now college students or graduates.
- Summary of mechanics of College Bound Scholarship.
- Entertainment - music, stomping, or jump rope exhibitions.
- Sample Program.
SIGN-UP LOGISTICS
- Recruit volunteers who speak languages represented in your district.
- Provide volunteers with signature item (bright baseball caps, t-shirts, etc.) so families know whom to ask for assistance.
- Train volunteers by reviewing the Q & As.
- Prepare computer lab: Web site up, printers on, volunteers ready to assist families.
- Have school staff bring multiple copies of lists of the State Student Identifier (SSI) numbers for students.
- Note: The SSI is important to monitor students as they progress through high school. The SSN will be required to disburse the scholarship. Both numbers are optimal; the on-line application will require at least one of the numbers. If the student has neither, enter “9999999999” as a placeholder in the State Student Identifier field.
- Print 2 copies of the signature page and ask the parent and student to sign. Forward one copy to HECB and give the family the other.
- Verify that applications are complete – Income Standards, Release of Information, Signatures (this is for paper applications only – not needed for on-line applications).
THANK YOU
- Send thank you letters/emails to all who participated; include statistics of the day
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