The Lee E. Schauer Memorial Scholarship was established in 1989 by family and friends to honor the memory of this fine young man who lost his life in a tragic accident the summer before his senior year of high school. Initially a $1,000 scholarship, the amount was increased to $20,000 in 1997 when Lee's parents made a generous gift to the scholarship fund.
It is the wish of the Schauer family that this scholarship be awarded to a college-bound high school senior for whom the award will truly make a difference. For that reason, the award is intended to reach those students who may not qualify for other scholarships - "average" students who are involved in their community and in school activities, who are leaders and display character traits like caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, but whose GPA may eliminate them from consideration for other scholarships.
The criteria for the scholarship are:
- College-bound high school senior.
- GPA of 2.5 or higher. Please note, GPA is a qualifying criterion only and will be given no weight in the selection process.
- Continuous membership and active participation in the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA for the 3 years prior to April of the application year.
- Participation in sports and/or fitness activities.
- Commitment to community service as a volunteer, particularly at the YMCA. Documentation will be required.
- Must demonstrate caring, honesty, respect and responsibility in daily life.
- Must demonstrate leadership qualities.
The $20,000 is payable over 4 years, and students must establish proof of satisfactory progress to renew each year.
Applications are mailed to all schools in Shelby County in January of each year, and will also be available at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA. The recipient of the scholarship is determined by the Scholarship Selection Committee, and is announced in May of each year. The scholarship is administered by the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA Foundation.
For more information, contact Kelty Inman at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA.
