Scholarship (Essay Contest) :

High School Scholarship

An award of $500 will be granted to one winner, selected primarily on the basis of a competitive essay. The essay will view Saint Katharine Drexel as a role model in today’s world.
The Saint Katharine Drexel role model essay competition for the scholarship award is opened to anyone who will be a high school student in the fall of 2010 and who is a member of Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.

Suggested Essay Format and Preparation
1. The theme of the essay should be, “How Social Justice was a part of Saint Katharine Drexel’s Eucharistic core values.” The essay should consider:
  o Both the similarities and the dissimilarities with your own life and what it would mean to accept her as a role model.
  o How you might go beyond the effects of poverty by addressing its causes.
2. Essay should be approximately 1000 words, typed on standard letter-size paper.
3. Evaluation will be weighted 75% on the essay and 25% on the interview of the five-finalists.
4. Read a Saint Katharine Drexel biography. The biographies below are available in the parish office or information center after Mass or can be obtained by contacting the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (www.katharinedrexel.org or 215-244-9900)
  o Mary van Balen Holt; Meet Katharine Drexel
  o Lou Baldwin; A Call to Sanctity
  o Daniel McSheffery: St. Katharine Drexel Pioneer for Human Rights
5. A pilgrimage to Saint Katharine Drexel’s Motherhouse and Shrine in Bensalem, PA is highly encouraged.
6. Essay references, including Web sites, and acknowledgements must be listed on a separate page.
7. Applicants are urged to consult a variety of sources, especially those outside the internet.

Schedule and Awards
1. Application forms will be available in the St. Katharine Drexel Parish Office, at the Information Center after Mass, or on the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish web site by 12 September 2009.
2. Completed applications should be received at the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish office by 12 October 2009.
3. The last day for receipt for completed essays is 30 November 2009.
4. Five (5) essay semi-finalists will be selected. Both the essay and the interview will be used as the criteria for the final evaluation of the five finalists.
5. The winner will be announced by 15 February 2010
6. The winner will receive a $500 check applied towards high school tuition, or it can be retained for college
expenses.

Application and Certification
1. The application may be printed or typed using the official form and must be received by 12 October 2009.
2. A parent or guardian must verify and sign personal information.
3. The completed essay must received by 30 November 2009.
4. Both application and essay may be either mailed or hand delivered by their respective dates to:
Saint Katharine Drexel Scholarship Committee
8428 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, Maryland 21702

College Scholarship

An award of $1,000 will be granted to one winner, selected primarily on the basis of a competitive essay. The essay will view Saint Katharine Drexel as a role model in today’s world.
The Saint Katharine Drexel role model essay competition for the scholarship award is opened to anyone who will be a college student in the fall of 2010 and who is a member of the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish.

Suggested Essay Format and Preparation
1. The essay should address the following:
  o Her early life, particularly her inspiration to serve others.
  o Her spirituality, especially her focus on the Eucharist.
  o Both the similarities and the dissimilarities with your own life and what it might mean to accept her as a role model.
  o How you might address the systematic issues of inequality, racism, hatred, violence, greed and prejudice in Church and society.
2. Read a Saint Katharine Drexel biography. The biographies below are available in the parish office or information center after Mass or can be obtained by contacting the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (www.katharinedrexel.org or 215-244-9900)
  o Mary van Balen Holt; Meet Katharine Drexel
  o Lou Baldwin; A Call to Sanctity
  o Sister Consuela Maria Duffy; Katharine Drexel: A Biography
  o Daniel McSheffery: St. Katharine Drexel Pioneer for Human Rights
3. A pilgrimage to Saint Katharine Drexel’s Motherhouse and Shrine in Bensalem, PA is highly encouraged.
4. Essay should be approximately 1000 words, typed on standard letter-size paper.
5. Evaluation will be primarily on the essay and on interviews of the five-finalists.
6. Essay references, including Web sites, and acknowledgements must be listed on a separate page.
7. Applicants are urged to consult a variety of sources, especially those outside the internet.

Schedule and Awards
1. Application forms will be available in the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish Office, the Information Center after Masses, or on the Saint Katharine Drexel web site by 12 September 2009.
2. Completed applications should be received at the Saint Katharine Drexel Parish office by 12 October 2009.
3. The last day for receipt for completed essays is 30 November 2009.
4. Five (5) essay semi-finalists will be selected. Both the essay and the interview will be used as the criteria for the final evaluation of the five finalists.
5. The winner will be announced by 15 February 2010.
6. The winner will receive a $1,000 check applied towards college expenses.
7. The winner will speak at the annual Drexel Ball planned for March 2010.

Application and Certification
1. The application may be printed or typed using the official form and must be received by 12 October 2009.
2. A parent or guardian must verify and sign personal information.
3. The completed essay must received by 30 November 2009.
4. Both application and essay may be either mailed or hand delivered by their respective dates to:
Saint Katharine Drexel Scholarship Committee
8428 Opossumtown Pike
Frederick, Maryland 21702