By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Typically, scholarships award students for their prowess in academics or athletics. But the BGHS Class of 1973 wants to reward students for being kind.
Unlike other scholarships, students won’t need to apply. The scholarship will find them. And it will carry on for 13 years – giving a student in each grade level right now at BG City Schools a chance to be recognized for being a good person.
As their 50th reunion approaches, members of the BGHS Class of 1973 discussed the type of legacy they wanted to leave behind at their alma mater. Should it be something static – like a bench? Or something that lives on – like scholarships?
The Class of 1973 scholarship committee – made up of Steve Sawyer, Martha Kelly Jewell, David Pearse, Mike Hoffman and Beth Ann Brown – decided on funding a scholarship for one year for one senior from the Class of 2023.
But the idea grew in scope and evolved into a very different form than most scholarships.
“As we are all in our 60s, we were able to reflect on the things that we’ve learned along the way and apply our own life experiences,” the scholarship committee wrote. “The one thing that stood out to us is that scholastic achievement and athletic abilities (the usual road to a scholarship) are all short term – but that kindness, empathy and looking out for each other endures for a lifetime.”
“We’ve all been lifted along the way by the kindness of strangers – who say or do the right thing when we needed it the most. That’s what we wanted to honor. The selfless student in the background who sits with the new student in the lunchroom, who protects others against the bullies, who lends an ear and a kind word when someone needs it, who promotes inclusivity when someone feels marginalized.”
So the criteria for this scholarship is unlike others. The student must possess and promote the following traits, by virtue of their leadership position or by the example they set for others:
- Inclusivity
- Kindness and empathy for others
- Looking out for the welfare of others
- Advocating for and helping others who are less fortunate
- Breaking down barriers to communication
- Drawing out loners from throughout the school in offering their friendship
“In offering the scholarship, we could think of no better way of recognition – to reward a trait, hold it up as an example to be emulated, and to send them on their way – to college, a trade school, or whatever form of higher learning they may choose,” the scholarship committee wrote.
Bowling Green High School Principal Dan Black said he is excited about the scholarship that will award kindness and empathy.
“These are things that go unnoticed, especially in the scholarship realm,” Black said. “This scholarship rewards students who are just good people.”
The honor will acknowledge students otherwise unrecognized, he said.
“I applaud the Class of 1973 for thinking outside the box. They may be catching kids that may not be in the top 20 of the class,” Black said. Instead, the scholarship will recognize “those who are involved in school and care about the culture of their school.”
Superintendent Francis Scruci also applauded the unorthodox scholarship.
“In a climate where we need more kindness and grace, this is a really neat thing to do,” Scruci said.
The Class of 1973 is hopeful that the spirit of its scholarships will be perpetual.
“In offering the scholarship, we could think of no better way of recognition – to reward a trait, hold it up as an example to be emulated, and to send them on their way – to college, a trade school, or whatever form of higher learning they may choose,” the committee wrote.
In the beginning, the committee was hoping to amass several thousand dollars to fund a one-time scholarship. But as the pool of donations increased, the scholarship program was expanded to 13 years – so that every student in the Bowling Green school system at the time of the first award (from kindergarten to 12th grade), would be considered for the scholarship during their senior year.
“In the end, the legacy left behind by the Class of 1973 will be our recognition of 13 seniors from BGHS who go out into the world and make it a better place. In doing so, perhaps others will follow their lead,” the committee wrote.
There is no application process for this award. Instead, all seniors who fulfill the requirements will be considered. The recipients will be selected by a board consisting of BGHS staff, underclassman, and a member from the Class of 1973.
“As we thought about the scholarship selection process, we didn’t want it to be something that someone would apply for – instead, the scholarship would find them,” the scholarship committee wrote. “We even kept the GPA at a very attainable level (3.0 or better) so that more students could qualify and allow their actions in meeting the criteria to become the focal point.”
The scholarships will be given to graduating seniors to be used within two years at a two- or four-year accredited college, university or trade school. Recipients who opt for a military career must use the scholarship within five years of the award.
To date, the Class of 1973 has amassed over $34,000 in its account, from contributions and interest/dividends, as managed and maintained by the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. The exact amount of the first of 13 scholarships has yet to be determined but is estimated to be approximately $2,800 to a member of the Class of 2023.
To those who may wish to contribute to the fund, checks made payable to “BGHS Class of 73 Memorial Scholarship” may be mailed to Bowling Green Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1175, Bowling Green, OH 43402. For on-line donations, access the Bowling Green Community Foundation’s website at www.bgohcf.org/give. Hit the “DONATE ONLINE TO A BGCF AFFILIATE FUND” button on the bottom left side of the page, then scroll toward the bottom of the second page to the “BGHS Class of 1973 Memorial Scholarship Fund.” Follow the prompts to make a credit card donation.
The local Wood County point of contact for the BGHS Class of 1973 Memorial Scholarship Committee is Martha Jewell, who can be reached at 419-376-6512.
