Kearney Catholic High School Foundation: Kearney, NE

Created June 17, 1994

By the Kearney Centre Merchant’s Association

through the Kearney Catholic High School Foundation

Principle Objective: To create a lasting tribute to the life of Lynelle Willard Parks by establishing a scholarship in her memory that recognizes academic excellence, outstanding leadership, broad extra curricular involvement and strong moral convictions in a Kearney Catholic High School graduating senior.

Scholarship Criteria: The Lynelle Willard Parks Memorial Scholarship will be awarded on an anuual basis to a graduating senior at Kearney Catholic High School. Formal presentation of the scholarship will be made at the school’s Honors Mass by a representative of the Kearney Centre Merchant’s Association or a member of the family.

The scholarship recipient will be based on the following criteria:

1) The scholarship will be awarded each year to a graduating senior at Kearney Catholic High School who is planning to enroll at the University of Nebraska Kearney in the fall term immediately following their high school graduation.

2) Preferences will be given to applicants who are choosing to pursue a business related major

3) The recipient must have at least a 3.0 or “B” grade point average during their first semester of the senior year and a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 or “C” throughout their high school career to qualify.

4) The recipient should have demonstrated a broad range of extra curricular involvement during their high school career.

5) The recipient should be recognized by their peers as a school leader and must have demonstrated clear leadership qualities during their high school careers.

6) The recipient must have demonstrated a genuine concern for the well being of their community and citizens by being involved in community service, charitable or civic activities on a volunteer basis.

7) Special consideration will be given to students with a legitimate financial need.

8) The recipient must be of strong moral character.

9) The following grading scale may be used to determine the annual recipient. However, this scale is not necessarily the final determination of the winner.

Has a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or C+ (5 points)
Has a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or B (10 points)
Has a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or B+ (15 points)
Has a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or A (20 points)
Planning to pursue business related major (5 points)
Has been involved in a variety of extra-curricular

activities (sports, drama, music, clubs, academics) (1-15 points)

Has been a recognized leader in the school (1-10 points)
Has been a willing volunteer in community service,

charitable or civic activities (1-10 points)

Based on recommendation by priests, teachers, employers

or others, has a track record of strong moral character (1-10 points)

Application appearance and completeness (1-5 points)
Has a legitimate financial need (1-10 points)

Application Process: Interested students must submit a Lynelle Willard Parks Memorial Scholarship application provided by the Kearney Catholic High School guidance counselor. The application must be completed in full and returned by the deadline noted on the application. In general terms, the scholarship applications will be available on March 1 with an application deadline of approximately April 15 each year.

One letter of recommendation from a person not associated with the school is also required.

Finally, a copy of the student’s transcripts, class rank, and grade point average from their freshman year to the current year should be included with the application

Uses of Scholarship Funds by Successful Application: Amounts received are excludible from gross income only to the extent that they are sued for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required at the educational institution. Amounts used for room, board, or incidental expenses are includible in gross income. “Incidental expenses” for this purpose include expenses incurred for room and board, travel, research, clerical help, and equipment and other expenses that are not required either for enrollment or attendance at an educational organization or in a course of instruction at such an organization.

Example: A receives a scholarship from University (U) for the 1987-1988 academic year. A is enrolled in a creative writing course at U and among the suggested supplies for this course is a word processor. However, students are not required to obtain a word processor in order to enroll or attend class. Any scholarship amount used to purchase a word processor is not an amount used for related expenses and is not included in determining the amount received by A as a qualified scholarship.

The exclusion is not limited to a grant whose terms expressly provide that it be used for tuition and course related expenses. Instead, the exclusion amounts incurred by the candidate for tuition and course related expenses during the period to which the grant supplies.