Hal
Connolly Scholar-Athlete Awards
The
deadline to apply for the 2004 Hal Connolly Scholar-Athlete Awards was
February 1. Please continue to check back for an application for the
2005 Hal Connolly Awards.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPETITION?
-
To
provide supplemental financial assistance to potential freshman college
students with disabilities who have participated in varsity level
athletics.
-
To
encourage the academic success of the winning students.
-
To
promote various jobs related to athletics as valuable career choices.
-
To
further the general goals of the California Governor's Committee by
promoting educational training and employment opportunities for persons
with
disabilities.
WHO
IS HAL CONNOLLY?
Mr.
Connolly exemplifies the positive role of sports participation for students
with disabilities. He is an internationally famous United States Olympic
gold medallist, winning the hammer throw competition in the 1956 Olympics
and competing in three successive Games. His accomplishments are especially
noteworthy because one of his arms was substantially injured and paralyzed
at birth.
HOW
MUCH AWARD MONEY IS AVAILABLE?
A maximum
of six $1,000 awards may be granted, three to male students and three
to female students. Other finalists will receive engraved bronze medallions.
Winners are also eligible to attend the annual Youth Leadership Forum
for Students with Disabilities sponsored by the Governor's Committee
in late summer.
WHO
IS ELIGIBLE?
All
current high school seniors who are:
- Enrolled in
an accredited California public or private high school.
- Age 19 or under
on January 1 of the same year calendar you are applying for.
- With a cumulative
GPA of 2.8 or better.
- Who have competed
during high school in varsity or equivalent level competitive athletics.
- Who have a disability*.
- Applicants must
be California residents who plan to attend accredited colleges or
universities. Students must submit a complete packet consisting of
the application, plus six other items (listed on the application)
for consideration. It is not necessary for students to plan on formally
participating in a college athletic activity to qualify.
* The Americans with Disabilities Act defines an "individual
with a disability" as a person who has a physical or mental impairment
that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a
record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment.
HOW
CAN YOU USE THE AWARD MONEY?
The
award money is contingent upon each winner's acceptance to an accredited
college and must be used for tuition, books or other educational expenses.
WHAT
ARE THE JUDGING STANDARDS?
Students'
academic and athletic histories must demonstrate qualities of leadership
and accomplishment. Judges will rate:
(1)
15% cumulative grade point average;
(2) 15% student's cumulative grade point average as it relates to the
nature of
the student's disability;
(3) 30% athletic accomplishments as they relate to the student's disability;
(4) 25% essay regarding school and community activities; and
(5) 15% overall personal achievement.
Top
finalists may be interviewed before final selections are made. Judging
is conducted by the California Governor's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities, and the decisions of the judges are final.
Winners
of the 20th Annual Hal Connolly Scholar-Athlete Awards
will be announced May 31, 2004.
HOW
DO I APPLY?
Application
forms are available from high school counseling offices, from this Web
site and from the Governor's Committee's staff office.
The
deadline to apply for the 2004 Hal Connolly Scholarship-Athlete Awards
has passed. Please continue to check back for an application for the
2005 Hal Connolly Awards.
Requests
can be sent to:
California
Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
800 Capitol Mall, MIC 41
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-8055 voice
(916) 654-9820 TTY
(916) 654-9821 FAX
(800) 695 - 0350
All award money is privately donated. Past contributors
include:
International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES),
and Friends of the California Governor's Committee on Employment of
People with Disabilities, Inc.

This Web site and many other activities of the
California Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities
(CGCEPD)
are funded through
Friends of the CGCEPD, Inc., a non-profit
501(c) (3) corporation.
Please
send comments/questions regarding this site to: dgounder@edd.ca.gov
|