The Scholarship Process

By Marylou Motto

The Scholarship Committee, an exceptional group of intelligent, dedicated women, is hard at work. In late April, as I write this, we are at the tail end of interviewing fourteen extraordinary young women from the 2025 high school graduating class--which is part two of our three-part process. 

Marylou Motto, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, speaking at the 2024 Scholarship Reception.

Applications. The seven people on the committee--Barbara Sayres, Lorna Ness, Molly Ball, Andrea Stein, Mary Segers, and co-chairs Ellie Redington and myself--began work in earnest in January, when we visited local high schools to share the scholarship program and criteria with guidance departments. By our meeting in March, we had the completed student applications in hand—a total of 43 this year, from eight high schools. We all went home with shopping bags full of applications.

Then we had about three weeks to read all  the applications, taking copious notes on a rating grid and voting on which applicants to interview. We reviewed transcripts and resumes and letters of reference and short student essays written on an issue of gender equity.  We looked for academic excellence, evidence of leadership (in school, service organizations, athletics, and community activities), and financial need. Along the way, we commiserated with one another often on the impossibility of choosing among applicants—they were all so accomplished!

Interviews. Near the end of March, fortified by our reading, we met to vote on whom to interview. This process narrowed the application pile by roughly two thirds, and we sent out fifty letters—one to each applicant and school to announce individual results.  The second part of our process began. After a scheduling process, a team of three committee members went to each school to interview.  As hard as it is to make selections, we all love meeting the students and are convinced there’s no substitute for meeting them in person.

Scholarships. Early next month, we will meet again to share our thoughts and wrangle the list of astonishingly accomplished and active students (whom we have interviewed) down to the six scholarship recipients. Whew! 

The rest is gravy!  We still have a great deal to do, but none of it is as stressful as selecting recipients. This year, the annual Scholarship Reception is on Sunday, June 8th, from 2 pm to 4 pm, in Lile Hall of Christ Church in Summit. In the time available, the Scholarship Committee will send out another round of letters to students and schools and work on invitations, speakers, programs, certificates, publicity authorizations, and press releases—to say nothing of the reception itself: food, drink, flowers, and the room and table setup. Lorna Ness, who orchestrated last year’s successful Scholarship Reception, is again conducting the event preparations, supported by the entire committee as well as some SCC members.

At the celebration, committee members will present the monetary awards, and each presenter will list a few highlights of the recipient’s accomplishments.  As in previous years, listeners will marvel at the extraordinary service projects, athletic events, and extracurricular activities that somehow happened during each young woman’s academically outstanding high school years. On the afternoon of June 8, the six young women, poised to fly high in their academic careers and lives, will give us hope and belief that the future is in capable hands. 

The audience will greet and meet the recipients of the 2025 scholarships for 4-year colleges and their justifiably proud parents and families. Smiles will abound. Committee members will be smiling too: our work well done, we can relax until the new year.  

Summit College Club members, you make this day possible. The Scholarship Reception is a direct and visible result of the entire club’s efforts throughout the year to support gender equity and to make the Book Sale an annual success. On the afternoon of June 8, there will be all-round happiness in the light-filled Lile Hall.  Please come and share it with us. — Marylou