Lions of VA BLAND MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP CONTEST

Each year the Lions of VZ hold local club, district, and state competitions for middle and high school instrumental and vocal students to compete for scholarships to continue their musical studies. In the greater Richmond area the following Lions Clubs are holding a contests in the near future:

The James Bland Foundation website is (blandfoundation.org)   Links to the contest history, 2012 applications, and scholarship information can be found on the right side bar at the website for RA staff to review and recommend to their gifted high school students if appropriate.

Lions Clubs:

Lions Clubs International is the largest service organization in the world. Since 1917 Lions have been meeting the needs of local communities and the world. Currently, 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and geographic areas conduct vision and health screenings, build parks, support eye hospitals, award scholarships, assist youth, and provide help in time of disaster and much more.A program to benefit and assist youth, the Lions of Virginia Bland Music Scholarship Foundation, Inc. (Bland Foundation) was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) on July 1, 2007. At that time, the program was changed from an already existing, ongoing charity to a charity foundation (Federal ID # 11-3789354). Under the aegis of the Lions organization, the Bland Foundation has been providing performing opportunities as well as scholarships to gifted music students, both vocal and instrumental, since 1948.The purpose of the foundation is to promote cultural and educational opportunities for the musically talented young people in Virginia (primarily of high school age). This goal is achieved through progressive competitions, beginning in February, at the local Lions club level, and culminating in May in a competition among 12 finalists. The Bland Foundation oversees the running of the competitions and also provides $18,000 to the 12 finalists. The scholarships must be used for college tuition, music lessons, summer music programs or other music education endeavors. As tuition and lessons are extremely expensive, the Bland Foundation provides needed assistance to these talented, hard working music students and their families.Many participants in our program (especially the finalists), upon graduation from high school, have been accepted into the top music schools, conservatories and colleges in the United States. Finalists (vocal and instrumental) from 2005-2011 are enrolled in: - Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University
- Oberlin College /Oberlin Music School
- Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
- Cornell University
- University of Michigan
- Columbia University
- Carnegie Mellon Musical Theater Program
- The Juilliard School
- Yale University

Who was Bland?
James Bland, an African-American, was a popular composer in the late 1800's. In 1948 the Lions of Virginia were instrumental in having Bland's composition, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny", adopted as a state song. To honor this prolific writer of Americana, the Lions wanted to create a "living monument". In 1948 the Bland program was established to do just that. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" is now the state song emeritus but the Lions organization still honors James Bland and his place in American musical history through this successful, well-established program for supporting musically gifted youth.

TMCF Adrian Carroll Battle of the Band Scholarship

As the title sponsor for the 9th Annual Adrian Carroll Official HBCU/High School Battle of the Bands, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund has committed to award up to three tuition and fee scholarships ($4,400) to students from the participating HBCU marching bands and up to twelve book scholarships ($500) to one student from the high school marching bands that participated in the Battle Of The Bands. The scholarship application will be available on the TMCF website (www.thurgoodmarshallcollegefund.org) February 1, 2012 and will close March 1, 2012. Selected applicants will be notified by April 15, 2012.

Eligibility Criteria:
1.  Be enrolled or plan to enroll at one of TMCF’s 47 member schools
2. Demonstrate financial need
3. Complete an application (Requirements are below)
4. Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
5. Be a US Citizen or legal permanent resident with a valid permanent resident card or passport stamped I-551
 
Application Requirements:
1. Resume- (Highlight leadership ability and achievements)
2. Essay- How has your musical ability contributed to who you are today? ( 500 word minimum)
3. Unofficial transcript
4. Student aid report (FAFSA)
5. Letter of recommendation from school faculty or staff

Preparing for College

Optimal Timeline for the 7 Critical Decisions
1. Make a Commitment (to attend college): Fall of 8th Grade – Spring of 9th Grade
There are only two options regarding commitment. You’re either IN or you’re OUT. There’s no such thing as life in-between. – Pat Riley

2. Discover Your Destiny: Fall of 8th Grade – Spring of 10th Grade
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

3. Achieve Admission Requirements: Fall of 9th Grade – Spring of 12th Grade
Do or do not. There is not ‘try’. – Yoda

4. Finalize Your Choices (college selection): 11th Grade
A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. – Ara Parasheghian

5. Apply to Colleges: Fall of 12th Grade
There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. – John Kennedy

6. Choose Your College: Spring of 12th Grade
It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. – Walt Disney

7. Finish with Conviction: Summer of 12th Grade
Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too. – Michael Jordan

Scholarships

There are several helpful scholarship web sites! Visit:

www.VirginiaMentor.org

www.schev.edu

www.fastweb.com

Financial Aid
Visit these two web sites for more information on financial aid:

www.VirginiaMentor.org

www.fafsa.ed.gov/