MEMO Scenario - Scholarship Awards Committee

You are a student Academic Advisorat State University and The Scholarship Awards Committee at State University needs your advice and suggestions.

A trust fund was established by an anonymous donor to award one full-tuition scholarship per year to a person with demonstrated need for financial assistance, a reasonable expectation of success as a student, and who is unlikely to attend college if not granted some form of aid.

The Committee members have selected 5 finalists they are considering for this scholarship but only one person can receive the award and they are undecided who to choose as the one recipient of the award. You are well known in the administration as an Academic Advisor who knows and understand students' needs and have helped many students succeed in the past at State University.

Because of your strong track record of working with students, the Committee has called on you to make a recommendation and they need your advice to help make a final decision. There are no other conditions attached to the award except that the finalist must be selected from the list of applicants below. Who do you recommend receive this scholarship and why?

You will write a memo explaining your decision and it should be addressed to:Scholarship Awards Committee Members.

Duane, age 18, finished high school in three years. He says he rushed through because he could not have tolerated another year of the bull. His mother, a widow with two younger children to support, can only work part time in her field as a registered nurse. Duane's high school grade average was 3.0. University tests predict a 2.6 college grade point average in a science curriculum and 3.1 in nonscience. His mother is determined that Duane should be a physician. Duane says he is not sure of what job or profession he wants. He has some emotional problems; a psychiatrist he has seen recommends college because he thinks Duane needs "an intellectual challenge."

Carla, age 17, has very high recommendations from the small-town high school where she earned a 3.8 grade average. In her senior year, she became engaged to a driver from a feed mill, who wants to get married at once and forget college. She is known to have spent a few nights with him on a cross-country trip to haul grain.

Your university predicts she will earn a 2.6 in science and a 3.3 in nonscience program. She says she wants to become a social worker "to help the poor in some big city." The minister where she attends church says she has a fine mind, but he predicts she will marry and drop out even if she starts college. Her parents are uneducated (less than high school), hardworking, law-abiding, and very poor.

Melissa, age 26, is a divorcee with a seven-year-old son. She made a 2.8 grade average in high school "because I goofed around," but tests predict a 2.9 in science and a 3.6 in nonscience at your university. She says she wants to become an English instructor, "in college if I get lucky, or at least in high school." She was a beauty contest winner at 18 but says she is bitter toward men and will never remarry. She gets no child support or other family assistance. Her present boss, a dress shop owner, gives her a good character reference but predicts she will marry rather than finish college.

Sam, age 19, was offered several football scholarships, but they were withdrawn when an auto accident injured his legs. He can get around well but cannot compete in athletics. His high school grade average was barely passing but entrance test scores predict a 2.5 average in science and 3.0 in a nonscience curriculum.

His father, a day laborer, says he cannot contribute toward a college education for Sam. Sam says he is determined to become a football coach, though he has been advised that may be difficult without a college playing record.

Ray, age 27, earned a medal for bravery and lost his right hand in an army war game. He earned a high school diploma while in the army. The university predicts a 2.0 average in science and a 2.8 in a nonscience program.

He is eligible for some veteran's assistance, but his family needs his help to support a large brood of younger children. Ray says he wants to major in business and "make enough money so I don't have to live like an animal as my parents do."