For Greene County News
DAYTON — A scholarship designed to reward students for their contributions and commitment to family and community is available for Greene County residents.
The “You Can Count on Me” scholarship program, made available by Greg McAfee, owner of McAfee Heating and Air Conditioning, will award $2,500 to ten high school seniors set to graduate in the 2016 academic year. Funds can be used for any accredited post-secondary course of study including: two or four-year colleges, trade or technical schools, or programs resulting in the award of a professional licensure issued by the state.
“Sponsoring local kids and students has been a passion of mine since going into business 25 years ago,” McAfee said. “Now that I have a child in college, I’ve heard of many students who are ineligible to receive a scholarship for one reason or another, so I decided to establish a program to help bridge that gap.”
According to McAfee, the program is designed to support students who have demonstrated a “can do” attitude through a combination of school-related activities, work experiences and community involvement. Each applicant’s personal narrative will weigh heavily in the selection process, as will recommendations from teachers, employers, clergy and other community leaders.
To qualify, students must reside in Montgomery, Warren or Greene counties, or attend the Miami Valley Career Technology Center or the Greene County Career Center. Students must also submit three letters of recommendation and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater, both at the time of application and upon graduation.
“Some students may not necessarily have the grades to qualify for many of the scholarships out there today,” McAfee said. “But, in my opinion, hard work, dependability, and commitment to family and community is equally important, if not more so.”
Additional consideration will be given to applicants with a significant financial need that would otherwise limit post-secondary opportunities.
Applications for the scholarship will be accepted, online only, between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. An independent panel will review the applications and one recipient will be selected each month. For more information or to apply, visit youcancountonme.org.
