By Janine Tejeda | President
Every year we give out scholarships, the experience is amazing and unique. This year we changed up our scoring rubric to clearly make it easier to receive a scholarship without weighing heavily on GPA. We received 22 applications from all over the United States. At least 10 states were represented. Half of the applicants received awards. We gave out 12 scholarships and 6 of those received $2500. It was a very successful year of giving despite the pandemic. Our donors and supporters are amazing and we feel blessed to have the ablity to reward those students who need the boost for college.
Why do we believe GPA isn't the biggest factor for choosing our scholars? Many students with Tourette syndrome suffer from symptoms that impede academic success in the traditional learning style. Test scores can be impacted by debilitating anxiety, uncontrolled ticcing of the body and mind, and short term memory issues from ADHD. We prefer to help our students who have overcome adversity and stayed in school despite these challenges. Perseverence is a great trait our scholars have and they keep on trying; they work hard! We hope to level out the traditional scholarships that heavily rely on GPA; we take the whole student into account. Our 12 scholars wrote wonderful essays; they have learned from their unique challenges and tried to find quality of life despite hardship. As an additional note, the scholars just happen to have great GPA's and were accepted to a variety of program and universities. They are intelligent and capable!
As supporters of those with Tourette syndrome, we want to show humanity in acceptance, inclusion and tolerance of those with differences. Sometimes those differenences are visible and sometimes they are hidden. We all need to feel accepted and understood depite our personal challenges; for our community of Touretters,we are that organization that strives to help, educate, and bring together people from all walks fo life to show support.
Thnk you to all of you who supported our efforts! Your dollars went to real students, not administrators or organizational cost, but to scholarships!
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