Can TranslateInto Scholarship Dollars (NAPSA)—Community service has taken center stage nationally. This year, President Bush launched the U.S.A. Freedom Corps, challenging all U.S. citizens to give 4,000 hours over their lifetimes to their communities. While beneficial for all Americans, community service can be especially rewarding for students seeking scholarships. In fact, many school districts across the nation require community service for high school graduation. This is a growing trend, according to The National Center for Education Statistics. “A scholarship applicant who participates in community service projects can develop leadership skills as well as the ability to achieve goals,” said Marilyn Rundell, VP of Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America (CSFA), the largest manager of private scholarship programsin the U.S. Many organizations offering scholarships look beyond a student’s grades, athletic prowess or test scores. When students compete for these awards, service hours can give them an edge. This is the case with the Burger King Scholars Program, which awarded 1,800 scholarships for the 2002-03 school year to high school seniors throughout North America. Students were selected based on financial need, work experience, GPA, co-curricular activities and community service. Burger King Scholars awardees participated in community service projects at local hospitals, elementary schools and churches, among otherplaces. For more information, visit wuww.burgerking.com / bkscholars.
