Paddy Damschen Memorial Scholarship Fund

$1,000 Scholarship
On March 8, 2011, Helena lost one of its greatest fans of high school athletics, especially high school track and field. Paddy Damschen was an amazing mother, an avid runner herself, a community-minded woman, and a great supporter of track and field. Paddy also believed that any young person could achieve their dreams and goals with the support of their family, friends, and community. In honor of this outstanding member of the Helena community, and the track and field community, her family began the Paddy Damschen Memorial Scholarship Fund (referred to as the PDM Fund from this point forward) in 2011. The fund was established for the purpose of providing scholarship money to high school seniors that have competed in high school track and field, have exhibited a commitment to their athletics, academics, and community, and are entering their first year of higher education at an accredited school in Montana.

Program Guidelines
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one (1) male or female from Capital High School and one (1) male or female from Helena High School for the 2012-2013 academic year. The PDM Funds goal is to provide assistance to worthy students in furthering their education. PDM scholarship funds are intended to assist students with the cost of tuition and fees. Funds cannot be used for housing or any other incurred expenses. Funds must be used during the regular school year and cannot be used for summer courses. If tuition is paid in full by any

other scholarship, grant or other financial aid, the PDM Fund scholarship may be used for books. Books must be purchased from a learning institution campus bookstore and
directly billed through that institutions business office. Applications received by the PDM Fund on or before the deadline of April 30, 2012 will be reviewed by the Funds committee. The committee will review, evaluate and select one winner from each school and one alternate from each school. Evaluation will be based on a point system and will include all aspects of the application, essay, and letter of recommendation.

The names of all scholarship winners will be announced on May 31, 2012 in the Helena Independent Record and on the Funds Facebook page. Winners will be
recognized at their respective track and field awards banquets in June.

Eligibility
Applicants must be a permanent resident of Montana. Scholarships are to be utilized at institutions of higher learning within the State of Montana.

Students must be enrolled as a full-time student during the 2012-2013 school year (excluding summer session) Students must have participated in track and field in high school for at least 2 years. Applicants must be on the varsity track and field team for at least their senior year.

There shall be no restrictions on any applicant by reason of race, creed, colors, sex or national origin. Only immediate family of the PDM Funds committee members is ineligible to apply.

How to Apply
Applications are available on the scholarship funds Facebook page www.facebook.com/PaddyDamschenMemorialTrackScholarshipFund or with the Helena High and Capital High track coaches. Fill out the applications, complete the written essay, have your coach write a letter of recommendation, and return all documentation to the scholarship fund in one of the 2 methods below.

Applications must be received by April 30, 2012 at 5pm.

E-mail to: cjdamschen@hotmail.com

Mail to: Paddy Damschen Memorial Scholarship Fund 825 Onyx Place Helena, MT 59602

Distribution of Funds
The scholarship funds will be paid directly to the school on behalf of the recipient. The total scholarship award will be divided as follows: credited to the fall semester, and credited to the spring semester. Funds cannot be used for summer courses and must be used during the

2012-2013 academic year.

The recipient must instruct the school he/she is attending to notify the PDM Fund with written notification of the full-time enrollment status before any scholarships will be paid. The PDM Fund must be contacted by the school, in writing, before August 15, 2012.

Deadlines
The deadline for all application submissions is April 30, 2012 at 5pm. Award winners will be contacted by May 31, 2012. Award winners will be recognized at their respective track and field banquets in June. The scholarship fund office must be contacted by the school with written enrollment verification before August 15, 2012. Payment will be made to the college or technical school by August 31, 2012.

Questions? Please contact the PDM Fund at cjdamschen@hotmail.com.