Introduction

For close to 30 years the Lancer Society’s Alumni Association has sought to provide scholarship funds to deserving, active, on-campus members of the Lancer Society to help defray the cost of their education at Whittier College.  Over the years, there have been many changes affecting the make-up of the Scholarship Committee itself, the funds which it has managed, and the awards which it has given to on-campus members of the Lancer Society.

In December 2008, the Lancer Society’s Alumni Association partnered with Whittier College to transfer scholarship funds from various accounts to form a new, permanent endowment account to be managed by the College. Previous scholarship accounts have included the J. Stanley Sanders ’62 Scholarship, the Lancer Alumni Scholarship, the William H. “Mo” Marumoto ’57 Leadership Scholarship, and the Lancer Alumni Discretionary Fund.

The new permanent endowment account has been named the Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship.  This new fund is an interest bearing account with an annual payout (5%) used to provide financial support to deserving Lancer Society active members.  The first award will be made in the 2009-2010 Academic Year with a payout accrued as of July 1, 2009.

The endowment fund is managed by Whittier College as part of the endowed scholarship program. An annual report with the market value of the Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship and information on the selected recipients will be distributed to the Lancer Scholarship Committee each year.

Selection of recipients for this endowed scholarship shall follow standard Whittier College practices in coordination with the Office of Financial Aid.  Scholarship Committee members may nominate and interview potential recipients and communicate their selection(s) to the Office of Financial Aid.

The Lancer Society alumni have agreed to bring this endowment to a minimum funding level of $50,000 no later than June 30, 2014.  It is recognized that gifts to this fund are considered tax-deductible charitable contributions.  Per the College’s Board of Trustees’ gift policy, if the Lancer Society alumni fail to meet the minimum level by the specified date, the fund will be dissolved and the accumulated funds will be combined with the Whittier College general scholarship endowment fund. A 90 day notice of intent to dissolve these funds shall be delivered to the Lancer Alumni Scholarship Chairman on record.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund is to find and recognize deserving, active, on-campus members of the Lancer Society possessing exceptional leadership and academic achievement who are service-oriented and demonstrate a commitment to the ideals of the Lancer Society, and to provide to them financial support to help pay for their college tuition and related educational expenses.

Purpose of the Scholarship Endowment Fund

The Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund provides an annual scholarship (based on 5% payout) to active, on-campus members of the Lancer Society pursuing a degree at Whittier College. Students must be enrolled and in good standing at Whittier College at the time of selection. Lancer seniors who are pursuing a graduate degree may also be considered for a scholarship award to reduce their student loan debt if, at the time of selection, they are in good standing at Whittier College and have been accepted for admission into a post-graduate program at an acceptable, accredited educational institution.

Eligibility

Candidates must be students, in good standing, at Whittier College, with a grade point average of not less than 2.25.  Further, eligible Candidates must be active, on-campus members, in good standing, of the Lancer Society and are expected to possess a commitment to the principles of the Lancer Society, a history of community service, outstanding leadership potential, and strong communication skills.

To be considered for a scholarship award, and scheduled for an oral interview with the Lancer Scholarship Committee, interested candidates must submit a timely written essay. The essay should explain why the candidate feels he should receive a scholarship award and must touch upon each of the seven categories (see details below) used as the criteria for making such an award.

The essays should be submitted directly to the Lancer Scholarship Committee’s Chairman, no later than March 1st of the calendar year the scholarship award is being sought. Following a review of the essays and candidate interviews, the name(s) of the scholarship winners ordinarily will be submitted to the College’s Financial Aid Department no later than April 1st of that same year.

Selected scholarship recipients should make every effort to attend the Lancer Alumni Brunch during Whittier Weekend the following October, as well as the annual Student Scholarship Luncheon held on campus each spring.

Scholarship Awards

Scholarship awards are based upon the funds available to the Scholarship Committee to make such awards.  Such funds are received from both the annual payout (5%) from the Lancer Endowment Scholarship Fund, as well as additional expendable donations received by the Whittier College Office of Advancement, specifically earmarked for a contemporaneous award which is not to be deposited in the Endowment fund.

Lancer Endowed Scholarships supplement financial aid candidates may receive from other sources. All funds must be dispersed by the College’s Financial Aid Department and will go to defray the cost of tuition and other educational related expenses.  Scholarship funds awarded may not exceed the maximum allowed by Federal guidelines for financial aid.

Application Information

Whittier College students, in good standing, and who are also active, on-campus members of the Lancer Society may apply for a Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship by submitting a written essay to the Lancer Scholarship Committee Chairman on or before March 1st of the calendar year when the scholarship is sought.  Essays must include a discussion of whether the candidate meets all of the eligibility requirements, and must also comment on the candidate’s standing relative to each of the seven scholarship award criteria (see details below).  Candidates may also include any additional information which they feel may be helpful to the Lancer Scholarship Committee in considering the candidate’s application.

Once the Lancer Scholarship Committee Chairman receives a candidate’s essay, the Chairman will communicate with the candidate to confirm receipt of the essay and to schedule an oral interview before the entire Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship Committee

The Lancer Scholarship Committee is comprised of Lancer alumni volunteers who have demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the mission of the Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship Fund.  Currently, the Lancer Scholarship Committee consists of the following Lancer alumni:

Bill Bonney '53 (Chairman)
Ted Horton-Billard '77
Morgan Smith '94
Alan Eiler '95
CJ Carty '00 
Zach Stecklein '03

Endowment Report

On or about December 1, 2008, the new, permanent endowment account had a net balance of $17,468.19.  Since that time, numerous donations have been made to the endowment fund and the current endowment balance exceeds $23,000.00.  These funds are in an interest bearing account and the annual payout (5%) shall be used to provide scholarship support to deserving Lancer Society active, on-campus members.

An annual report with the market value of the Lancer Endowed Alumni Scholarship and information on the selected recipients will be distributed to the Lancer Scholarship Committee each year.

Scholarship Award Criteria

Scholarship candidates are considered for awards based on scoring in seven different categories. The scoring is on a five-point scale with five being the best possible score in each category. The selection process follows the standard Whittier College practices in coordination with the Office of Financial Aid.  Award recipients are nominated by the Lancer Scholarship Committee and such nominations are thereafter communicated to the Whittier College Office of Financial Aid.

In order to be considered for a scholarship award, a scholarship candidate must meet the following seven criteria:

1. Must be in good standing as a current, active member of the Lancer Society and a member of the Whittier College student body.
2. Has demonstrated a belief in the ideals and values of the Lancer Society.
3. Has demonstrated leadership in the Lancer Society and/or their other education/social/athletic activities.
4. Exhibits documented financial need.
5. Submits a high-quality application/essay and communicates clearly in scheduled interview.

Following a candidate’s oral interview, the Scholarship Committee tabulates the points awarded by each of the Committee’s members, in each of the seven categories, and then discusses the bases for the numeric total.  Following such discussion, any Committee member may choose to reassess the numeric points he assigned in any/all of the seven categories and ask that a new tabulation of the points be considered by the Committee.

The scholarship candidate receiving the highest numeric total will be awarded a scholarship.  Other candidates with lesser numeric totals may also be given scholarship awards at the sole discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

NOTIFICATION OF SELECTED RECIPIENT(S)

Once a student (or students) has been selected, the Scholarship Committee Chairman will notify the recipient(s) in writing.  A copy of this memorandum will be sent to the Office of Advancement and the Office of Financial Aid.  The award will be included in the student(s) Financial Aid package for the following academic year.

FUNDRAISING

The Scholarship Committee will take responsibility for actively raising funds to build the permanent endowment.  A minimum of $50,000 has to be raised no later than June 2014.  The Office of Advancement will provide lists of all Lancer alumni on record for use in solicitation of funds.  The Office of Advancement will provide funding for two annual appeals to be mailed to all Lancer alumni with good addresses.  In addition, electronic solicitations may be sent using the Online Community (or its equivalent) to reach Lancer alumni with an email address on record.  A phone bank will be set up on campus for a telephone campaign, if requested.

The Scholarship Committee will provide any newly found address information to the Office of Advancement to update the database of alumni records.  Refreshed lists will be provided to the Committee as needed.

Personal approaches by members of the Scholarship Committee to Lancer alumni will be coordinated with and supported by the Office of Advancement.

Lancer alumni will be encouraged to support the endowed scholarship, as well as the Whittier Fund, and any other aspects of the College that may have particular appeal/interest to individual alumni.