Sun Life Financial will give selected education-based nonprofit organizations and exemplary high school students a total of $110,000 in grants and scholarships as part of their Rising Star awards in the Boston area. The June 9 deadline for submission of applications for eligible nonprofits is fast approaching.
The Rising Star Nonprofit award is $50,000, and two winners will be selected from among the applicants. The application is similar to a grant application, but also calls for documentation of measurable results and successes in the carrying out the mission statement, details of collaboration with secondary or post-secondary schools, information about wellness or educational programs provided to students, and a creative submission to further illustrate the nonprofit’s mission and successes. Also as part of the application process, each nonprofit will nominate a student who participates in its program and has demonstrated a commitment to his or her community and continuing education.
The Rising Star Student award is a scholarship of $5,000, and two winners will be selected from among the nonprofit entrants’ nominees. Student nominees must be high school seniors actively involved in an organization that shares the Sun Life Rising Star awards’ mission. The student nominee must also plan to pursue post-secondary education, exhibit leadership qualities and demonstrate a strong commitment to their communities. Nominated students must submit a 750-word essay elaborating upon their leadership attributes and community service experiences.
Last year, City Year Boston and Sociedad Latina were the Rising Star Award nonprofit recipients, and the student winners were Terel Andrews of City Year, who organized a collection and shipment of school supplies to Cape Verde; and Vickie Miranda of Sociedad Latina, who made a film to document the cultural concerns of Hispanic youth, which she presented to the City Council.
