JTHS Band Alumni
Centennial Scholarship Award

January 2012

The Joliet Township High School Band Alumni Association (JTHS BAA) is pleased to announce a one-time scholarship award in recognition of the 100^th year of the JTHS band program. Applicants must follow all steps outlined below to be included in the selection process for the JTHS Band Alumni Centennial Scholarship Award. Three steps are required by every student who qualifies and wishes to be considered for this award.

1. Application
2. Interview
3. Musical Performance

Want to learn more about the JTHS Band Alumni Centennial Scholarship Award?  Here’s the information that you need to know (also available online at – www.jthsbaa.org/about/scholarship/):

• Qualified students: Any JT Central and JT West senior in the graduating class of 2012 and who is also a member of their school's band program may apply.
• Award amount: Two $1,000.00 scholarships will be awarded; one to a graduating student in the class of 2012 from the JT Central band program and one to a graduating student in the class of 2012 from the JT West band program.
• Award presentation: The BAA scholarship committee plans to identify recipients so that students may receive recognition at their school's awards night ceremony. In addition, the scholarship recipients will be recognized at the 100^th anniversary band alumni concert on July 29, 2012.

The application form is the first required step. The form is available for download on our website –www.jthsbaa.org/pdf/centennial-scholarship-application.pdf.

The deadline for all applications is March 1, 2012, and the completed form must be mailed and postmarked on or before the deadline.  (JTHS BAA is not responsible for mailed applications that are lost, misdirected, etc. Students may choose to make a copy of all their submitted application and call us at 815.714.8706 to verify that the BAA received their application.) The mailing address is:

JTHS BAA
P. O. Box 1261
Joliet, IL 60434

The BAA scholarship committee will review all applications received to screen and select student(s) who will qualify for the next step.  The decisions of the BAA scholarship committee are final.

The remainder of this letter provides a brief overview of steps 2 (Interview) and 3 (Musical Performance) mentioned above. This general information is being provided to help students plan for the next step(s). We anticipate that interviews will be take place in the 2^nd half of March 2012 and musical performances during the 2^nd half of April 2012.  The BAA scholarship committee will provide details to each student who qualifies for the next step in the process.  Here are the details we can share today:

Interview:

• Interviews will be scheduled for all applicants who qualify for this step.
• The BAA scholarship committee will identify members of the interview team. One interview team will conduct the interviews of all students.
• The interview questions will NOT be available beforehand.
• The BAA scholarship committee will consult with the interview team and then select student(s) for the final step.
• The decisions of the BAA scholarship committee are final.

Musical Performance:

• Musical performance will be scheduled for each student that qualifies for this step.
• The BAA scholarship committee will seek independent qualified music educators and musicians to judge each musical performance. The same judges will critique all student performances for each scheduled day.
• The BAA scholarship committee will specify two days for this step, e.g., one weekday evening and one Saturday.
• Student must select a characteristic etude (length 3 to 5 minutes maximum) to illustrate their musical ability.
• The BAA scholarship committee will consult with the judges to select the finalists for the scholarship award.
• The BAA scholarship committee will select two (2) students to receive the JTHS BAA Centennial Scholarship awards – one (1) from JT Central and one (1) from JT West.
• The decisions of the BAA scholarship committee are final.

Lastly, we can provide basic information about the actual payment of this centennial scholarship. As stated, the award is solely for assisting two recipient students with the cost of their post-secondary education. The BAA scholarship committee (or BAA board) will require the recipients to provide evidence to claim the scholarship payment. The monetary award will be released to each selected student when they submit evidence of attending their designated post secondary school. An example of required proof would be the report card (or equivalent official document) for the 1^st term attended. Upon verification, the BAA board treasurer would be directed to make payment – in the student’s name – for the full monetary award. Other important information will be available online at – www.jthsbaa.org/about/scholarship/.

As JT band alumni, we are excited to be part of this once in a lifetime 100^th year anniversary celebration. We know that JT band students represent an exceptional group who are among the finest students. Most importantly, we are proud to sponsor the JTHS Band Alumni Centennial Scholarship Award to help our newest band alumni achieve their post secondary education goals. Their success is one with ours.

Long live the JTHS band program and the on-going tradition of musical excellence that makes us always proud to say – We are JTHS band alumni!

                                                                                                                        JTHS BAA Scholarship Committee