By Joan Bowen
Students at the John Glenn Middle School are now in the midst of their annual Scholarship Drive. Formerly known as the Magazine Drive, the name has been changed to reflect the purpose of the fundraising program. The funds raised will provide funding for families in need to enable all children to attend special educational experiences such as the eighth grade trip to Washington, D. C. and the sixth grade trip to Nature’s Classroom.
Principal Kevin Tracey wrote in a memo to parents “I have reservations when it comes to fundraising and asking families for money. It makes me uncomfortable. With that said, last year alone we awarded $7,200 to eighth grade families-in-need for full and partial scholarships for their child to attend the Washington trip. In addition, we awarded close to $4,000 towards scholarships for the Nature’s Classroom trip. Last year, over $3,600 was collected from the Scholarship Drive. The Middle School Parents Association provided an additional $2,000 to help offset costs. The difference was paid from dance revenue and from the remaining balance in the scholarship account.”
According to Tracey, JGMS does not have the funding to continue to provide scholarships at the current rate. Through the Scholarship Drive he looks to ensure that no child is left out from participating in a trip due to his/her family’s financial hardship.
Tracey told The Citizen that the memo to parents has received an overwhelmingly positive response from parents. Several have “stated that they appreciated knowing how the proceeds of the drive are spent and some who said that they were not interested in magazines, have graciously offered to write a check out to John Glenn Middle School for our student scholarship account. As I stated in the letter, I remain uncomfortable with asking anyone for anything; however, I am unwavering in my commitment to ensure that no child is literally left behind due to financial hardship.”
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