DS9 Document EFTA01221660

JSA THE JUNIOR JUNIOR SlATE OM STATESMEN OF AMERICA Inlllllui FOUNDATION THE JUNIOR STATESMEN SUMMER SCHOOL cio Box 303513 • St. Thomas, VI 00803 • Tel: (340) 344.2434 • Fax: (908) 715-5510 • March 30, 2011 Cecile deJongh Manager Financial Trust Company, Inc. 6100 Red Hook Quarter, B-3 St. Thomas, VI 00802 Dear Mrs. deJongh: RECEIVED Financial Trust co• I am writing on behalf of forty (40) of the Virgin Islands' brightest students to respectfully request your support and assistance. These students were admitted to the 2011 Junior Statesmen Summer School program, and have been working feverishly with their families for the last few months to raise the funds needed for tuition and airfare. As is true of most things of real value, attending the summer school is costly. Tuition, room, board, and transportation costs approximately $4,250.00. Our students and their families are motivated, resourceful, and exceptionally hard working, but most will be unable to cover this expense through their own efforts. The financial limitations of many V.I. families, combined with the inherent difficulty of raising money in a small community almost always creates a gap between what is needed and what can be raised. The Junior Statesmen Summer School is a challenging, month-long leadership program for talented high school students held each year on the campuses of Stanford, Princeton, and Georgetown Universities. In addition, Junior Statesmen has launched its first International program, which will be held at Capital Normal University (CNU) in Beijing. Each session creates a community of young scholars and future leaders. Students take college level courses in American Government or other advanced social sciences, and also engage in activities designed to improve their communication and critical thinking skills. Participating in the Junior Statesmen program prepares students to succeed in top-tiered academic settings and greatly enhances their leadership skills. The program is in its 70 year, and over 300 Virgin Islanders have participated since 1991. As a graduate of the Virgin Islands' public schools, a Junior Statesmen alumnus, and a former Junior Statesmen Summer School program director, I can speak first hand of the lasting positive impact of this program on the students who attend. Participants leave summer school transformed, possessing a new understanding of what they can achieve as students and leaders. Many of these students have moved on to attend some of the finest universities in the nation, including Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, Duke, and Columbia! EFTA01221660 I know that you are overwhelmed with sponsorship requests each year, and you are probably asking yourself why this letter should not be filed away like many others. To answer that question, you must understand that the Junior Statesmen Summer School is much more than a field trip. It is one of many programs developed and run by the non-profit, non-partisan Junior Statesmen Foundation to further its goal of preparing young people for active citizenship and effective leadership in the future. The Foundation, and all of its programs were created to help students gain the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to successfully lead their communities. The academic courses, debates, guest speakers and community-building activities at the Summer School are all directed towards this goal. The program also instills in students a sense of obligation to put their newly acquired skills to good use. It is clearly in the community's interest that future Virgin Islands leaders be well prepared for the responsibilities they will inherit and the challenges they will face. Attending the Junior Statesmen Summer School is an early and important part of that preparation. Supporting these students would truly be an investment in the future leadership of the Virgin Islands. We hope you will join local businesses and community organizations in supporting this year's Junior Statesmen class. A donation of any amount to the Junior Statesmen Foundation would greatly support our goal of sending all students to the program this summer. If you would like to support this worthy cause, please send your contribution, made payable to The Junior Statesmen Foundation, to: Junior Statesmen do P.O. Box 303513 St. Thomas, VI 00803 One hundred percent of your donation will distributed to Virgin Islands attendees as scholarships. As a nonprofit, charitable, educational organization, the Junior Statesmen Foundation will acknowledge your donation as a tax-deductible contribution. For your information, our federal tax identification number i..M I Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I will call your office in the next few days to follow up. If you would like to reach me, please call me at or e-mail me a Again, the Junior Statesmen Summer School provides a valuable experience for all students who attend, and represents a worthwhile investment in the future leaders of the Virgin Islands. I look forward to speaking with you, and working together to involve more students in this wonderful program. Sincerely, Marc L. Stridiron The Junior Statesmen Foundation EFTA01221661 JSA S MI an=ill/ ur ASILRICA mo n, FOUNDATION THE JUNIOR STATESMEN SUMMER SCHOOL 00 V.O. Box 303513 • St. Thomas, VI 00803 • Tel: (340) 344.2934 • Fax: (408) 715.5510 • [email protected] Student Profiles U.S. Virgin Islands Class 2011 ••••••••••••••••••••••••• sic w Ut ••••••••••••••••••••••••• EFTA01221662 '•• •• • S . ••••• ........... EFTA01221663 ......................... EFTA01221664 ......................... EFTA01221665 THE JUNIOR STATESMEN SUMMER SCHOOL FOR OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS STANFORD, PRINCETON, AND GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITIES Type of Program: Rigorous, College Preparatory. Academic Summer Program with Coursework Focusing on American Government and Politics, Public Speaking. Debate, and Leadership. Participants: Boys and girls entering their junior and senior years of High School. Exceptional ninth grade students will also be considered. Dates: June 19 - July 17 Georgetown Session 1 July 17 - August 7 Georgetown Session II July 10 — July 31 Princeton Session July 3 — July 31 Princeton - A.P. U.S. History June 26 — July 17 Stanford Session Program Contacts: Marc Stridiron (St. Thomas/St. John) and Ernest Morris (St. Croix) LOCATION There are five sessions of The Junior Statesmen Summer School. Two sessions arc offered at Princeton University, in NewJersey:athree week standard session and a four week session for students taking A.P. U.S. History. The two sessions held at Georgetown University in Washington, DC and the session at Stanford University. in Northern California lasts three weeks. Each university is within minutes of famous historical and cultural attractions that students may visit in their free time. BACKGROUND AND PHILOSOPHY For over 65 years, the Junior Statesmen Summer School has prepared students for responsible leadership in a democratic society. The goals of the Summer School are as follows: To develop an appreciation and understanding of American democratic government. To encourage the natural idealism of youth while confronting them with the realities of practical politics. + To help students leant that a just and democratic society + To help create an atmosphere, a challenge, and a stimulus for the intellectual awakening of high school students. + To help students develop leadership skills. + To teach students techniques of oral communication, argumentation, and persuasion. To confront a diverse group of young people with the challenge of living together in an independent environment. + To encourage logical and critical thinking. requires adherence to certain ethical principles. • To help students discover the joy and excitement of independent research. + To develop the students' self-confidence which is essential to effective leadership. • To develop an appreciation of freedom of speech. fi To help students develop time management skills and a sense of personal responsibility. PROGRAM OFFERINGS The Junior Statesmen Summer School offers a rigorous academic challenge to outstanding high school students. The curriculum includes college-level courses in American government and speech communication, plus an exciting, high-level political speakers program, and nightly student debates on current issues. ACADEMIC CREDIT Students may obtain credit from their high school for their course work at The Junior Statesmen Summer School. These courses are offered as one-semester Advanced Placement and Honors classes. At the conclusion of the session, a detailed transcript will be sent to high schools, at the request of the graduates. ENROLLMENT Over 1000 outstanding high school students from across the United States attend the Junior Statesmen Summer School each year. At the Georgetown session, most students are rising seniors. At Stanford, and Princeton, high school students entering their sophomore, junior and senior years may participate. About 100 students from US territories and insular areas attend each year. DAILY SCHEDULE At Stanford, and Princeton. government classes are held in the morning followed by a lunch break. In the afternoons, students either continue their government courses or participate in other academic activities, including guest speakers and leadership exercises. At both campuses, afternoon courses arc followed by a break for recreation and dinner. Student debates are held each evening. At Georgetown, there is no set daily schedule due to an extensive speakers program. For example, on Monday students might be in class for 3 hours, grab a quick lunch, jump on a chartered bus to Capitol Hill for a two hour speakers program. followed by a short break for dinner. That evening you might be debating hot issues in Congressional Workshop. At each session, classes are held six days a week. RULES & SUPERVISION Adults are housed in the residence halls and are responsible for supervision and educational counseling around the clock. High school rules are strictly enforced. There is a curfew, at which time students must be in their own room either sleeping or quietly studying. Students arc housed two to a room on floors segregated by gender. Students arc not allowed on the floors of the opposite sex. SESSION HIGHLIGHTS After a campus tour, university admissions officials meet with interested students to discuss their institution's admission policies, financial aid, housing, student life and academic offerings. Parties, dances. and a talent show are also held during each session. EFTA01221666 CULTURAL EXCURSIONS On Sundays. students and faculty may visit nearby cultural and historical attractions. In Washington. for example, trips to the Smithsonian and other landmarks arc encouraged. Stanford session students may go to San Francisco for the day. Princeton students enjoy attractions in New York City. FACILITIES Summer School students reside in a university dormitory and use university classrooms, libraries, and recreational facilities. Students may take advantage of recreational facilities on each campus: some charge a participation fee. Recreational activities include swimming, tennis, basketball, and volleyball. STAFF, The Junior Statesmen Summer School faculty, resident assistants and staff members arc drawn from some of the best universities in the United States. Government professors are outstanding political scientists with a Ph.D. Speech instructors have at least a Master's Degree and arc dedicated to excellence in their own classroom teaching and in the oral and written work of their students. Resident Assistants are college undergraduate or graduate students who have attended a previous session of the Summer School. Faculty, resident assistants, and staff live in the university residence near the students and are responsible around the clock for their supervision and academic counseling. RELIGIOUS LIFE Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish services arc held on campus or nearby. Transportation to religious services is not provided, however, resident assistants will be happy to help students make arrangements to get to and from religious services. TRANSPORTATION As long as they arrive on opening day of Summer School, students arc met at local airports and transported to campus by chartered bus or van At the conclusion of the session, they will be transported to the airport for their trip home. CosTs Tuition, including room and board, for the 2010 Summer School is $4,500 for all sessions. Round trip transportation to the Summer School, personal school supplies, souvenirs, access to recreational facilities (if the university charges a fee), laundry, and some off-campus meals are not included in tuition. At least $150 (depending on the session) is recommended for spending money. DEPOSIT A $50 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance. The balance of the tuition is due two weeks before the program. All of the tuition paid by the student and their parents is refundable until two weeks before the start of the Summer School. VA MAMA information ninny. nontont Mara Ctritlinrso as You may also visit the following website for additional information: hapdwwwfsa.oresummer DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SCHOLARSHIPS For over fifteen years, through grants from the U.S. Department of the Interior, twenty outstanding high school student leaders from five insular areas - the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa. the Republic of Palau. Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas - are selected for scholarships which cover full tuition and round trip airfare to the Junior Statesmen Summer School session of their choice. These Interior Department Scholarships are awarded by a Junior Statesmen Foundation committee. Scholarship decisions are based on an applicant's academic achievements, leadership potential and interest or involvement in politics and community affairs. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: Applicants submit an application form (printed in the Summer School brochure), a one-page personal essay, a one-page essay on a political or social issue of the student's choosing, an official high school transcript. and two teacher recommendations. Interviews will be conducted with ALL APPLICANTS for admissions and scholarship consideration. Completed applications must be turned in to your school's guidance counselor prior to the deadline. PLEASE DO NOT MAIL INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS! DEADLINESZ Scholarship applications from the U.S. Virgin Islands MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16,2010. Scholarship recipients will be announced by two weeks after the deadline. We strongly recommend that you retain copies of all application materials after submission. Note: This deadline is for students who want to be considered for the full DOI scholarships. Students who miss the deadline may still apply for Summer School admission until April 30, but they will not be eligible for any scholarships. TYPE OF STUDENTS WE A RE SEEKING: Top Students, socially mature, self-confident leaders. The Summer School course work is extremely rigorous, so only the best students are accepted for admission. You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen to be admitted to the Summer School. but you must write and speak fluent English. STUDENT COMMENTS: "Experiencing the Junior Statesman Summer School at Princeton University was one of the most Milling experiences of my aft. During my time Mere I learned wiluabk oratoryskills as how to approach writing from a theoretical viewpoint. Whether your passion is auto mechanics, cosmetology, or politics. learning to read and write in a *my that you not only convey a message but do it with conviction is a summer well spent." --Lennox Mark, St. Croix Educational Complex Princeton Summer School 2007 "1 wonted to attend to the Jr. Statesman Summer School Program mainly because / wanted to gain the confidence needed to become a better public speaker. With hard work and determination and a wonderful speech teacher I am now happy to say that I have achieved my goal. It was the best experience of my left. It was hard to get through sometimes but !finished and ! learned so much. I would definitely recommend this program to students but I would warn then, that lthey are not willing to work hard then they should not consider It". --Haley Mick, St. Croix Educational Complex Yale Summer School 2007 EFTA01221667 Young Debaters Hone Power of Language hup://sithotnassource.cotWprint/840 ern MIT/NAN _Q/17" inn r' 1 I VIV.ILL k../k1k).1.1A_LIU Published on St. Thomas Source (http://stthomassource.com) Young Debaters Hone Power of Language an a " II While the loudmouths and troublemakers often steal the attention, one group of local teens is working hard to have a say in their world and put their generation in a positive light. Articulate and bubbling with confidence, the 20 students from Charlotte Amalie High School, Ss. Peter and Paul, and Antilles School gathered in the CAHS library Saturday to learn and to practice how to participate in civic debate and discussion as part of a mini-conference of the nationwide Junior State of America rose A big part of the five-hour event -- a warm-up and motivating taste of the national summer conferences many have already attended at Princeton, Georgetown and Stanford universities — is to "help students find their voice," said Marc Stridiron, the organizer of the conference. "It is appropriate to disagree without being disagreeable," he told the students as their day of debate and discussion began Saturday under the Junior State of America logo, which reads, "... because democracy is not a spectator sport." "Listening is as important as, or more important than, speaking," Stridiron said. The Junior State of America, or JSA, touts itself as the largest student-run, nonpartisan civics organization in the United States. Stridlron said it fosters critical thinking, hones presentation skills and exposes students to new ideas. The students seemed to get that as well as their mentor had hoped. Even though, as he said, public speaking ranks up there on the fear scale with "shark attacks and earthquakes," they took each other on in front of their peers, presenting convincing arguments for and against a school voucher system for the U.S. Virgin Islands and the recent national health care reform bill approved by Congress and President Obama. "By improving our schools we improve our students, which will only improve our society," said one student arguing for increased competition that she said a voucher-based education system would bring. Arguing for a repeal of the health care law, took a conservative tack. "At its core, what Obama-care really means is a loss of freedom," she said, going on to cite statistics on deficits and insurance rates and quote the online version of the National Review magazine. After presenting arguments, counter-arguments and then supporting arguments for both sides after a caucus, they voted on each matter, congratulating each other for their presentations and discussing how they could improve. "This is one of the best groups we've had," Stridiron said as the debates moved along with little or no guidance or prodding. "We will not be losing freedom," said 15-year-old I have already lost freedom and we need to get it back," she said. defending the new health care law. "We 1 of 2 3/3/2011 11:38 PM EFTA01221668