Motivational Awards Program

Goal

The purpose of the Girls Inc. Online Motivational Awards Program is to encourage and reward enthusiastic participation in the overall Girls Inc. Online experience. The Program's goal is also to provide girls with tools to help explore their areas of interest and provide financial help to offset costs of furthering their personal growth and education.

Awards

Scholarships in the amounts of $250, $500, and $1000 will provide financial aid to members pursuing college educations, trade school training, studies in the arts, and other areas of interests that prepare for future careers and growth and development.

Other awards, such as digital cameras, video cameras, electronic keyboards, printers, and laptop computers have been selected to help girls develop their areas of interest as well as expand technology learning.

Eligibility

Active participation will help you become eligible for the Motivational Awards Program. Girls earn credits based on the quantity of participation on the site, particularly by participating in:

• program activities

• quizzes

• polls

• discussion boards

• submitting content for the site, including ideas for activities, music reviews, book reviews, and movie reviews

Every time a girl participates in an activity, she earns credits towards eligibility to apply for an award through the Motivational Awards Program. Eligible girls will be asked to write an essay on how the program content affects their lives.

There will be five eligibility levels, corresponding to the number of credits earned through participation. Each eligibility level will offer the opportunity to apply for different types of awards.

Once a girl reaches an eligibility level, she will receive a message in her girlsinc-online.org inbox and be asked to submit an online application for one of the awards at that level. Eligibility credits are cumulative, therefore, girls can choose to apply at the level at which they are eligible or build up credits toward a higher eligibility level. Applications will be evaluated and awardees will be selected every three months.

Award applicants must meet the following guidelines:

- Submit an online application with a narrative/autobiographical statement for each award.

- Submit Award Application Release Form (send in with registration application).

- Provide all items by the specified deadlines.

Narrative/Autobiographical Statement/Essay

The essay should reflect on a girl’s involvement with Girls Inc. Online and ways in which participation has been important to her. It should describe how the program content and activities connect to the applicant’s life, her experiences and beliefs. Also, the essay should include a description of how the award for which the girl is applying will help her achieve her goals and enrich her life. The essay should be no more than 500 words and no less than 100 words.

Earning credits and submitting an essay does not automatically guarantee that a girl will receive an award. The quality of the girls’ participation and their essays will determine who will be selected from the group of members who have submitted applications. If an applicant is not selected as an awardee, the credits she earned will remain hers, and she will continue to accumulate credits and can apply for awards in upcoming award cycles.

Award Cycle

Members are encouraged to participate in activities and complete the program content at a pace that is right for them. Girls who reach an eligibility level will be notified online of the level at which they can apply for an award and when applications for awards are due. Applications will be evaluated and awardees will be selected every three months.

Selection Process

The Award Selection Committee will be composed of a broad range of professionals specializing in youth development and education. Awardees will be selected based on the quality of their participation and the essay submitted describing the impact of their Girls Inc. Online experience. The quality of their online participation will include items such as the number of times posting in discussion boards, involvement in scheduled career exploration sessions, and the quality and quantity of their content submissions for the site.