Who is Eligible?

Any active Apollo High School Band member who is a graduating senior is eligible to apply.

The scholarship is awarded based the following criteria:
(1) Achievements, activities, and honors as a member of the AHS Band.
(2) Other school activities, honors, and achievements.
(3) Other community activities and achievements.
(4) Personal essay.  
(Personal essay includes some of the band member's fondest memories of band and how those experiences have prepared them for life after high school.)

Applications submitted are ranked anonymously by adult band representatives designated as judges.  Each application is given a temporary reference number from 1 to the total number of applications. Applications are read by a non-voting volunteer who does not disclose the names on the applications, but instead the temporary reference number provided above.  The judges that rank the applications are not related to the students applying for the scholarship.  For 2004, three judges were selected.  One was from the current freshmen class, one was from the sophomore class, and one was from the junior class.  

The student is not required to major in music in college and the student's GPA is not disclosed to the judges.

Each of the four sections above are ranked from 0 to 5, with 5 being the highest.  Each judge individually ranks each section without discussion with any of the other judges.  Each section's rank is then totaled by each judge for a total score for the applicant.  The maximum possible score would be 4 sections times the maximum of 5 points, for a maximum of 20 points.  These are tallied on a form indicating application by number only.

After all applications have been read and scored by each judge, the three judges' scores are totaled for each applicant.  With three judges and a maximum of 20 points, a possible total score from all judges for an individual applicant would be 60 points.

The applicant (indicated only by reference number at this point) scoring the highest point total is then designated as this year's recipient.

Finally, the temporary reference number is then matched to the individual's application.  The recipient's name is given to the Apollo High School Band Director and will be announced at the annual Band Banquet.