SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2010

MARLETTO FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP(S): The Marletto family has donated $5,000 to fund one or two scholarships at the discretion of the PAEF Scholarship Committee. It is desired that these scholarships should go to worthy Granite County students who might not otherwise be able to attend a post secondary institution. Applicants must provide documentation with their application supporting the criterion of financial need. Applicants may use the “Expected Family Contribution” information from their FAFSA evaluation to fulfill this criterion. In addition to financial need, character and academic potential are important criteria used by the committee.

PAEF BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S SCHOLARSHIP: Funds for this scholarship are derived from the personal donations of the members of the board of directors. This scholarship, of at least $500, is available to a resident of Granite County whether or not they are attending a post secondary institution. Character and academic potential are the selection criteria.

COMMANDER BERNARD O’ROURKE SCHOLARSHIP:
This scholarship is for $1,000 and will be awarded to a 2010 graduate of Granite High School, which is Commander O’Rourke’s alma mater. The family and friends of Commander O’Rourke provide funds for this scholarship. Applicants should peruse Commander O’Rourke’s biography at paefmt.com. Character and academic potential are the primary criteria for awarding this scholarship. In addition, in their essay the applicant must state how Commander O’Rourke’s life might motivate them to seek higher education or describe character traits and/or experiences similar to his which motivate them to seek higher education.

ROSE AND THOMAS BROGAN SCHOLARSHIP: Funds for this $1,500 scholarship are provided by the estate of Patricia Cloney. It was her desire to honor her parents, Rose Winninghoff Brogan and Thomas Brogan. Students applying for this scholarship must already be engaged in post secondary study in either business, economics or mathematics.

EIK FAMILY SCHHOLARSHIPS: The Eik Family has donated funds for two (2) scholarships of $500 each. It is their desire that these scholarships be made available to Granite county students. However, preference will be given to 2010 graduates. The criteria for selection will be need, character and academic potential. It is necessary to document financial need. You may use the “Expected Family Contribution” from your FAFSA evaluation.

BILL AND SHARON CHRISTENSEN SCHOLARSHIP: Funds for this $500 scholarship are provided by Bill and Sharon Christensen. It will be awarded to a Granite High school graduate who will be attending a public post secondary institution. Students with athletic scholarships will not be considered. The principal criteria will be character and academic potential.

JON MANKE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Employees and friends of the Granite County Medical Center provide funds for two (2) $250 scholarships honoring Jon Manke, RN, who recently retired from GCMC and who died in a motorcycle accident shortly thereafter. One scholarship will be awarded to a graduate of Drummond High School and one to a graduate of Granite high School. Recipients must major in a field of health care, preferably nursing. The criteria are character and academic potential.

PFC KYLE BOHRNSEN SCHOLARSHIP: This scholarship for at least $500, is funded by donations from the Bohrnsen family and friends. PFC Bohrnsen graduated from Granite High School in 2003. He died in combat in Iraq in April, 2007. This scholarship will be awarded to a Granite High School Class of 2010 graduate or any other GHS graduate planning to attend a post secondary educational institution. The primary criteria will be character and academic potential.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!!

Money is the life-line of PAEF’s ability to fulfill its mission. At present the money comes from all over the USA. It comes in large and small amounts and from corporations as well as individuals.

It is the policy of PAEF to expend donated funds as directed by the donor. As a result of this policy, most funds go towards immediate expenditures in the form of scholarships. A small amount is utilized for postage and other mail-related services, including a bulk rate postal permit and maintaining a post office box. Over the ten (10) years of its existence approximately $34,000 has been invested in an endowment fund through the Montana Community Foundation.

The long term future of PAEF is invested in its endowment fund. As of this writing the endowment fund has been allowed to grow without using any of its earnings to fund our Mission. The primary goal is to allow this fund to grow to about $100,000 before using investment proceeds in the program.

PAEF likens its investments in the endowment fund to planting a tree. When it is young and getting established it produces little in the way of fruit or shade, but once it begins to mature and continues to be cared for, it will produce substantial amounts of fruit and shade.

The most efficient way to nurture the maturation of our endowment fund is to solicit bequests, donation of stocks and bonds, donation of land and buildings or the proceeds from life insurance.

The Board of Directors would like to request that each supporter of PAEF give some serious thought to supporting PAEF by utilizing one of the methods just listed. We stand ready to answer your questions to the best of our ability. In addition, you may direct your questions to the Montana Community Foundation which has staff that can give advice regarding a wide variety of tax sheltered donation mechanisms.

The Montana Community Foundation is located at 1 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601. Their telephone number is: (406) 443-8313. Their e-mail address is: info@mtcf.org.

HOW ONE FAMILY HAS USED PAEF’S SERVICES

The family of Commander Bernard J. O’Rourke has used the services of PAEF’s Scholarship Program for six (6) years to process a scholarship honoring Commander O’Rourke. The O’Rourke family has been able to maximize their funding by making their scholarship donations to the Philipsburg School District which qualifies the donations to be matched by the Boeing Foundation. In this way they have been able to double the benefit of their donations each year.

In order to ensure that the Commander O’Rourke Scholarship will be available to worthy Granite High School Seniors in perpetuity, Commander O’Rourke’s widow has purchased a life insurance policy, naming PAEF as the beneficiary. PAEF will invest the insurance proceeds in its endowment fund held by the Montana Community Foundation. Invested in this way $25,000 will generate enough income each year to fund a scholarship of at least $1,000 in perpetuity.

PAEF is available to assist anyone in channeling their money to support just about any worth-while educational project, not just scholarships. This service will be provided at no cost to the donor, except when money is invested with the Montana Community Foundation which charges a small fee for participating in their investment pool.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The PAEF Scholarship Application Form can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website: PAEFMT.com. Please follow the instructions carefully. Since it is a checklist form it isn’t necessary to submit a separate application for each scholarship.

Each applicant should peruse the descriptions of each scholarship carefully because they do not all have the same requirements. For example: for several scholarships, financial need is the most important criterion. If you apply for such a scholarship you are expected to document the need. To simplify this requirement a blank on the application form is provided for you to provide the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amount provided from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that you filed with the government agency responsible for determining financial need and qualification for federal grants and/or loans.

You must also submit, with your completed application the followings:

-Copies of high school or college transcripts

-Three (3) letters of recommendation from employers, ministers, teachers or other persons who can attest to your character, academic potential, or testify as to any other information you want provided

-An essay of at least 250 words describing your educational plans or providing any other information about yourself that you desire the committee to consider.

Some of the scholarships also require you to write about other topics in addition to discussing your educational plans.

Feel free to attach any information about school activities or experiences you desire the committee to consider.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPSAND/OR GRANTS:

Even though the resources of the Foundation are somewhat limited, applications for educational training for a variety of purposes will be accepted at any time during the year. It is essential that the applicant clearly describe the scope and purpose of the course work being contemplated.

It would be unlikely that the Foundation would fund more than 50% of any tuition and/or fees.

The application must be submitted in a timely manner to enable proper processing.