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Applications for the 2020 Marlyn and Betty Meyer Scholarship are being accepted from Glenbard East High School seniors. Completed applications are due by February 14, 2020.

High school seniors who live in Lombard, Villa Park or Oakbrook Terrace are eligible for our Jane and Gernon Henderson 2020 scholarship, which is awarded for service to community. Completed service hours and applications are due by February 14, 2020.

MARLYN AND BETTY MEYER SCHOLARSHIP

Purpose

This scholarship, aptly named to honor the spirit of service and compassionate commitment embodied by the late lifetime Lombard resident Marlyn Meyer and his wife Betty, is made possible for the first time this year due to a generous gift made to Tri-Town YMCA, which Marlyn helped to establish over 50 years ago.

A portion of the gift donated by Betty has been designated to provide the selected high school senior with a scholarship in the amount of $750 to be applied toward tuition at a two-year or four-year college or at a vocational or trade school. This fund represents the intertwining of two loves, including former village trustee and Glenbard High School graduate class of ’44 Marlyn Meyer’s love for the Tri-Town YMCA, where his own children and grandchildren have both participated in and led programs, as well as Betty Meyer’s love for education, particularly through the medium of music.

“I always had music growing up,” said Meyer who, at 86, reflected fondly on a lifetime of teaching both locally and downstate. “I’ve always been interested in helping children get acquainted with the folk music of this country and with various kinds of classical music suited toward their interests. I think that sometimes we forget about the arts, and sometimes we look past students who have talents in more artistic expressions.”

For Meyer, a past president of the Lombard Elementary School District 44 School Board, education may very well run in the family genes, as her youngest daughter and granddaughter currently teach in the Lombard area. The Y served as a staple in her growing family as her children participated in the Y’s Princesses and Y’s Guides programs, which aspired to strengthen fathers’ relationships with their children while instilling essential values and traditions.

“I think these activities really proved that you don’t have to have a building with large expenses to have good programs,” said Meyer. “After my family got involved, they made some good friendships along the way, and it was good for dads, too, who may not have many other outlets.”

Meyer, who looks forward to assisting a student toward achieving his or her academic dreams, continues her deep involvement in the Lombard community, where she has served as a former president of the Lombard Service League, as well as the Lombard branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and of P.E.O. International, a nationwide philanthropic educational organization in which participating women help to motivate others to advance their education through scholarships, grants, awards and loans. Today, she remains a member of the First Church of Lombard, where she currently plays the handbells in her congregation, and she also accompanies a choir at Lexington Square Senior Living Center.

Meyer professes that she has enjoyed watching the growth of Lombard, from the construction of Lombard Village Hall, the Helen Plum Library and the police department, to viewing the flowers blooming in Lilacia Park to the establishment of the then-Lombard YMCA in 1966 led by her husband Marlyn, Jack Brust, Dick Arnold and other community leaders.

“There are a lot of people who donate a lot of their time to this community, and when more people are involved in service, it makes the community so much better,” said Meyer.

Eligibility

This scholarship is specially designated for current Glenbard East seniors who belonged to a Tri-Town YMCA program for at least a full school year, such as the Y’s Kids before or after-school program, Tri-Town Y-Guides, Y-Princesses, or Y-Trailblazers.

Scholarship Information

$750 scholarship which can be applied to tuition at a 2- or 4-year college, vocational or trade school. Payment will be made directly to the institution. The recipients will be announced prior to their High School Award Ceremony.

Application Process

Tri-Town-YMCA-Meyer-Scholarship-2020 Application

This opportunity is not solely based on GPA or academic achievement, as the Y firmly believes that youth aptitude is measured by more than grades and test scores.

The application  includes transcripts and a letter of recommendation from a coach, clergy member, teacher, or YMCA staff person. Applicant must also write and submit a one page letter reflecting upon what their participation in the YMCA program has meant to them. Applications and attachments must be received by the Tri-Town YMCA no later than 4:00 PM on February 14, 2020.

Applicants must complete the entire application utilizing a computer. Hand-written responses will not be considered.

Selection Process

All applications will be reviewed by the Tri-Town YMCA Scholarship Committee. A decision will be made, and communicated to the applicants and their schools by mid-March.

JANE AND GERNON HENDERSON SCHOLARSHIP

Purpose

The Tri-Town YMCA offers Educational Scholarships to recognize students who demonstrate the qualities embodied by Gernon and Jane Henderson, Lombard residents who possessed the qualities of community involvement, a willingness to help others and a positive attitude toward life. This is not an academic standing or need based scholarship.

Eligibility
High School Seniors (including home-schooled students) who currently reside in the Tri-Town communities of Lombard, Oakbrook Terrace and Villa Park.  If not home schooled, students must attend Glenbard East High School, Glenbard South High School, Willowbrook High School, or Montini High School. Students need to have served as volunteers in Tri-Town YMCA programs and activities for a minimum of 15 hours during the summer immediately preceding Senior Year through application deadline as a demonstration of their community involvement, willingness to help others, and positive attitude toward life.

Opportunities to serve the community through volunteerism with Tri-Town YMCA include:  Tri-Town Golf Outing in June, Christmas Tree Sales in December, summer camp and providing homework assistance in our after-school program during the school year. (Note: Volunteers working with our children will be required to authorize a background check.) Please contact Holly Zielinski at development@tritownymca.org or call 630-629-9622 regarding available opportunities.

Scholarship Information
Up to 2 Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1,000 each. The award money is to be used toward the first year of Continuing Education. This scholarship is not limited to four-year colleges – applicants may attend two-year colleges, vocational school and trade schools. Payment will be made directly to the institution. The recipients will be announced prior to their High School Award Ceremony.

Application Process
Download the  2020 Henderson Scholarship Application and complete the entire application.

Download the 2020 Henderson Scholarship Candidate Volunteer Form and attach the form verifying achievement of your Tri-Town YMCA volunteer hours. Complete the form describing your involvement in:
• Helping others in your community and church
• School activities, school organizations and school athletics
• Awards/honors/recognition received

Submit two narratives, no longer than one page each, describing
a. What achievement has been most satisfying?
b. What did you learn/gain from volunteering at Tri-Town YMCA and how do you think this will affect your future?

Applicants must complete the entire application utilizing a computer. Hand-written responses will not be considered.
There is no need to include high school transcripts or letters of recommendation. The application and narrative must be received by the Tri-Town YMCA no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 14, 2020.

Selection Process
All applications will be reviewed by the Tri-Town YMCA Scholarship Committee. A decision will be made and communicated to the applicants and their schools by mid-March.

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