Scholarship award presentation

Future2LtMom said:
I'm thinking I may need to bring a cot to DS awards ceremony. His class is about 600 strong, and there are a LOT of high-achieving students at the school. His school has already contacted the LTC (ret.) awarding him with his scholarship to ask whether they will need time to speak at the ceremony. They said they wanted to make sure they provided them with enough time to do what they want to do for our son. The ceremony starts at 7pm, so I'm thinking we'll be going out for a midnight snack afterwards!

Good times!
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If that's the case, bad for the hiney, but how awesome is that? Even though those students aren't my children, I get so choked up over these amazing kids and what they have accomplished! They are truly blessed!
 
So apparently the ROO from my local ROTC BTN came to my school to present my scholarship to me, but I couldn't go tonight. I feel so bad that came all the way down to my school to give it to me, but I literally no idea that he was coming. I didn't know he was there until I began getting texts from my friends about it. Honestly, if I had know that he was going to come, I would have made a much bigger effort to attend.
 
Ctorch said:
So apparently the ROO from my local ROTC BTN came to my school to present my scholarship to me, but I couldn't go tonight. I feel so bad that came all the way down to my school to give it to me, but I literally no idea that he was coming. I didn't know he was there until I began getting texts from my friends about it. Honestly, if I had know that he was going to come, I would have made a much bigger effort to attend.
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Why didn't you go? Didn't you know that you received the scholarship and there was the possibility that the school would acknowledge it?
 
The Army "no showed" on my kid's scholarship night. They did call the principal in advance and gave an excuse. The principal stepped in to call my kid to the stage, make a statement and shake his hand. When the principal mentioned the value of the scholarship you could hear an audible "gasp" followed by several "Wow" that came from the audience.
 
ABF said:
The Army "no showed" on my kid's scholarship night. They did call the principal in advance and gave an excuse. The principal stepped in to call my kid to the stage, make a statement and shake his hand. When the principal mentioned the value of the scholarship you could hear an audible "gasp" followed by several "Wow" that came from the audience.
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I'm so glad the principal stepped in to do the right thing.
 
Well, sounds like my presentation was the only one that went relatively smoothly.... Local ROTC unit sent an NCO in dress blues to present it, and it all went pretty well! Didn't get the big check, but got a nice framed certificate!
 
Strength and Honor said:
Well, sounds like my presentation was the only one that went relatively smoothly.... Local ROTC unit sent an NCO in dress blues to present it, and it all went pretty well! Didn't get the big check, but got a nice framed certificate!
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I always thought "the big check" was a big waste of paper and really embarrassing to the recipient, and, what are you supposed to DO with it two seconds after they hand it to you? Carry it back to your seat? Take it home in your car that is already full of siblings and such? Hang it on your wall? (Doubt even that.) Better to have a certificate! Congratulations!
 
The "big check" at DS presentation was for presentation and photo op only. It was a plastic coated foam board that allowed the recipients name to be erased and replaced for the next presentation. DS received a certificate and a couple other Navy momentos to take home.
 
Our school does not have a scholarship night. No one is recognized save for a few community awards at senior honors night. Somehow, the ROTC unit at a local college got permission to present scholarship to senior at the senior breakfast...everyone oohed and aahed...cynic that I am, I was looking around the room at the at least 3 others I knew w/ ROTC scholarships (DS included) who are going to other schools...and got no recognition. Most of the kids don't care...it's for the parents, I guess.:thumb:
 
The discussion of award ceremonies stirs some memories. Our high school declined to acknowledge ROTC scholarships my son and a football teammate had won. In an awkwardly composed e-mail, I was brusquely told the award ceremony was for local civic organizations to honor high school achievements, not for "merit awards bestowed upon students from colleges."

I was pretty sore about this at the time and whined to at least a few people at the school. In addition to basking in reflected glory, it would have been a way to thumb my nose at a neighbor who had once phoned me to predict young Delahanty was destined for 90 days at "joovie" (she was enraged he had remorselessly run over one of her new azalea bushes during a pick-up football game). He on the other hand was delighted to avoid wasting an evening, especially not to be singled out. Those of his friends who were headed for college wouldn't be present as they lacked the academic chops for any sort of award, and he didn't care about the opinions of the rest.

It pains me now to admit I even mused aloud about calling the rival high school across town to see if they would be willing to let him receive the scholarship award at their ceremony. But my son cast one of those "What are you, nuts?" looks and an unkind comment from Mrs. Delahanty showed she took his side on this. So I let the matter drop.

I have to say it probably worked out for the best. The scholarship was actually for a local college to which my son had not applied (call it School A), and I was at the time frantically trying to get it transferred to the school he had been admitted to (School B). The PMS at School A tried to dissuade us from seeking a transfer. He had attended School B 15 years earlier; School B and, confidentially, its ROTC program, were subpar. I don't know that he would have been a very enthusiastic presenter.
 
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My DS was told by his guidance counselor that his high school recognizes those students who have enlisted in the military. However, they do not recognize ROTC scholarship award winners. My wife and I are shaking our heads. My DS did not ask about those students selected for a Service Academy. I am curious to see if they are recognized.
 
Awards night vary quite a bit from school to school.

My son's school did not allow any presentation of scholarships during awards night. The only time a scholarship was mentioned would be as part of the presentation of an academic award. The school did not give out a lot of academic awards so many students that had received scholarships of any kind were not recognized if they did not receive one of the major school academic awards.

I can understand the schools decision, a large number of students received some sort of scholarship, some small, some large, had they taken the time to present everyone it would have been a very long evening. As far as appointments to any of the academies, the school saw an appointment the same as an acceptance to a civilian university with a full ride scholarship and made no special accommodation for the academy appointment.

Before graduation every senior was asked to fill out a form listing and scholarships they received including academy appointments. Included in the graduation program was a page (or more if needed) that listed the names of students and what scholarships they had received. So while they did not acknowledge these scholarships during any awards night, they did make an effort by including them in the graduation program where everyone in attendance could see.

Both my sons were fine with this, neither really wanted the Big Check presentation, I think my oldest son said it best "I am receiving an opportunity that won't be fully realized until I make it through the next four years and commission". He also said that everyone that mattered knew what he was doing and he was just fine with that.

The ceremony that really matters will be in 4 years.
 
Strength and Honor said:
Well, sounds like my presentation was the only one that went relatively smoothly.... Local ROTC unit sent an NCO in dress blues to present it, and it all went pretty well! Didn't get the big check, but got a nice framed certificate!
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Did the same last year for DS. Battalion sent 3. Everyone was impressed to say the least. I'm so thankful that they took the time to show my son that he was worth their time, like DS's time will be worth something once he commissions.

Congrats to you!
 
EDelahanty said:
I was pretty sore about this at the time and whined to at least a few people at the school. In addition to basking in reflected glory, it would have been a way to thumb my nose at a neighbor who had once phoned me to predict young Delahanty was destined for 90 days at "joovie" (she was enraged he had remorselessly run over one of her new azalea bushes during a pick-up football game). He on the other hand was delighted to avoid wasting an evening, especially not to be singled out. Those of his friends who were headed for college wouldn't be present as they lacked the academic chops for any sort of award, and he didn't care about the opinions of the rest.

It pains me now to admit I even mused aloud about calling the rival high school across town to see if they would be willing to let him receive the scholarship award at their ceremony. But my son cast one of those "What are you, nuts?" looks and an unkind comment from Mrs. Delahanty showed she took his side on this. So I let the matter drop.
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As my 7th grader would say... hila
(as in "hilarious")
 
Wanted to share my DS's experience.
DS is very private and had only shared with a few people his ROTC scholarship news. His scholarship night was by invite only and he assumed he was invited because of his position as a class officer. He was shocked to receive his certificate from an Army Major who listed the benefits of the award, which they valued at $150,000.
The majority of people in the audience were super supportive and offered him praise and congratulations, however the last several days of graduation events have included several snarky remarks from parents who are struggling to determine how they will finance their children's college years.
Some of the comments were so rude, I'm not sure I can continue my friendships with the individuals who uttered them.
Thanks for letting me vent :) I'm putting on my big girl panties and forgetting about it now!
 
meh126 said:
Wanted to share my DS's experience.
DS is very private and had only shared with a few people his ROTC scholarship news. His scholarship night was by invite only and he assumed he was invited because of his position as a class officer. He was shocked to receive his certificate from an Army Major who listed the benefits of the award, which they valued at $150,000.
The majority of people in the audience were super supportive and offered him praise and congratulations, however the last several days of graduation events have included several snarky remarks from parents who are struggling to determine how they will finance their children's college years.
Some of the comments were so rude, I'm not sure I can continue my friendships with the individuals who uttered them.
Thanks for letting me vent :) I'm putting on my big girl panties and forgetting about it now!
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Sounds to me like a little jealousy on their part! Smile and keep your head up! Your son deserves every bit of praise and recognition.. We don't need people in our lives who want to bring us down. Friends should want nothing but the best for you. To me that's not friendship.

Congrats to your son. I'm sure he worked hard for that scholarship:biggrin:
 
DS accepted a NROTC scholarship. His school invites representatives of the services to recognize those enlisting (none this year), those who accepted appointments to service academies (one Air Force, 3 West Point), and those who accepted ROTC scholarships. I found out a couple of days before the event that DS would not be recognized for accepting a NROTC scholarship because he's waiting on a medical waiver. I was told the Navy won't send anyone unless all the "T"s are crossed and "I"s dotted. The Navy sent someone because there were two other NROTC awardees. Made me kind of sad to see DS remain seated while his classmates were recognized, though he said he didn't care, and I think he was being truthful.
 
kayaker said:
DS accepted a NROTC scholarship. His school invites representatives of the services to recognize those enlisting (none this year), those who accepted appointments to service academies (one Air Force, 3 West Point), and those who accepted ROTC scholarships. I found out a couple of days before the event that DS would not be recognized for accepting a NROTC scholarship because he's waiting on a medical waiver. I was told the Navy won't send anyone unless all the "T"s are crossed and "I"s dotted. The Navy sent someone because there were two other NROTC awardees. Made me kind of sad to see DS remain seated while his classmates were recognized, though he said he didn't care, and I think he was being truthful.
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I applaud your son's mature attitude. If and when he gets the waiver, this will seem trivial. By the time he's commissioned in four years, it will be microscopic in significance.

On the other hand, some of us remember a years back the bitter disappointment of a career Marine whose son was awarded an NROTC scholarship. It was presented with great fanfare in the form of a giant check at his high schools's award ceremony by one or two uniformed Marine officers, as I recall reading. Father and son had been assured that obtaining a medical waiver for a minor vision issue was a mere formality. The waiver, sad to say, was not granted.
 
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We were very pleasantly surprised last night at our DD's awards night when the Navy representative showed up to present her scholarship award. Since our high school has in the past been less than supportive of the military it was a very nice surprise that they honored the Navy ROTC and Army ROTC scholarship recipients.
 
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