Scholarship Opportunities for the
2008 CMS Adventure Series
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA | CAROLINA MASTER SCHOLARS

The Carolina Master Scholars (CMS) Adventure Series, in partnership with the The State Newspaper and the USC Office of Research and Health Sciences proudly offer a limited number of scholarships for students to attend our programs. 

Scholarship Opportunities
Each year in which funds are available, students may be considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible based upon the standards indicated below.  Each scholarship award provides a credit to attend one ­ Adventure Series course. Generally, a single application can be used to apply for all scholarships.  Financial need and essay are considered in the award process; see below for more details. 

The State Newspaper. All 6th – 12th grade students who attend a school in SC, public or private, or who are home-schooled in SC are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

USC Office of Research and Health Sciences.  Students participating in courses related to health are eligible to apply for this scholarship (in 2008, these courses include Adventures in Pharmacy, Exercise Science, and Medicine).

Application Instructions
Each year in which funds are available, an application will be provided on this website.  The application form should be completed and submitted with all required documents, which usually include an essay on a required topic, and the family’s federal 1040 form for the most recent year available.

A scholarship can not be awarded until a complete academic record is available for review and acceptance into CMS is confirmed.  Awards are limited in number, competitive, and take financial need into consideration in addition to academic record and the required essay.

Application and essay must be received no later than Friday, April 11, 2008 at 5:00pm.  Only one application per person is accepted.  Each essay must be authored by an individual person, must be a unique work composed specifically for the application, and must be submitted in accordance with specified criteria.  For future guidance, the 2008 criteria include:

Word Count.  Essays must be 350-400 words, including: a, an, the.  Word count does not include name, title, or page headers and footers.

Essay Format.  Must be printed legibly or typed in 12 point font and double-spaced.  Include your name on each page of the essay.

Application.  Essays must be submitted along with the Scholarship Application, which must be complete, printed legibly or typed, and signed by the student and a parent or legal guardian.  A complete federal 1040 form (2006 or 2007) must also be submitted.

Essay Topic.  The essay must address the following question/topic:

►If you were elected President of the United States, what do you think would be the most important issue to address and what action would you take?  Who would you need to involve in solving the issue?

Submit on Time. Submit Your Application and Entry by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2008, to   

Academic Enrichment and Conferences
University of South Carolina
1600 Hampton Street Annex, Suite 208
Columbia, SC  29208

Questions?
Phone:   803-777-9444
E-mail:   confs@gwm.sc.edu
Web:       http://ced.sc.edu/adventures

Please read the following important information about enrolling in the Adventure Series, and rules governing the scholarship application.

Enrollment Process for Scholarship Applicants
Scholarship entry is separate from enrollment in the CMS Adventure Series.   During the entry period (March 24 – April 11, 2008), enrollment continues in CMS, and courses are subject to filling.  Award of a scholarship does not guarantee acceptance into CMS or placement into a course of the student’s choosing. 

To secure a space in a particular course (if available), scholarship applicants may choose to apply to CMS independent of the scholarship entry, and must pay the $200 deposit required with the CMS Application.  The deposit is non refundable, regardless of eventual scholarship award decision.  Should a person be awarded a scholarship after applying separately to CMS between March 24 and April 11, 2008, the scholarship award of up to $450 will be subtracted from the Balance Due for the tuition, lab fees, and residential fees for that course.  Under no circumstances will a monetary payment be made.

Judging, Awards and Notification
Essays will be judged on substance, organization and quality, creativity/originality, grammar, spelling, and punctuation; preference is given to entries from students with limited financial means, although other criteria are the determining factors in judging.  A limited number of scholarships will be awarded based upon available funding from all sources.  Each winner will receive credit to attend a 2008 Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series course held at the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus.  Winners will be notified by mail no later than May 2, 2008.  Winners must complete supplemental paperwork in addition to the Scholarship Application in order to enroll. Enrollment in Adventure Series courses is strictly limited.  Every effort will be made to accommodate each winner’s course preference.

After notification is issued, award recipients will have ten (10) work days to confirm their enrollment in writing and make additional payments if there is a balance due for lab fees or residential housing.  If confirmation is not received within 10 days, the scholarship will be forfeited along with the related space in the course.

Rights Associated with the Scholarships
Winners grant to The State, and the University of South Carolina the right to use their names and likeness in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.  All entries become the sole property of the University of South Carolina.  Applicants agree to abide by the above stated rules, and warrant that their entry is their original work and does not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party, and grant The State, and the University of South Carolina the right to edit, publish, promote, and otherwise use their entry materials without permission, notice or compensation. Essays and applications will not be returned.  Selection of recipients is the sole discretion of the University of South Carolina and decisions are not subject to appeal.

Participation Options 
Three participation options are available for any Adventure Series: Resident, Commuter (Day only), or Commuter + Evening.  You may register for only one course per week.  Residential and Commuter + Evening options have associated fees.

READY TO LEARN MORE?
For more information on becoming a Carolina Master Scholar, please call USC Academic Enrichment and Conferences at 803-777-9444, send an email to confs@gwm.sc.edu, or check out these helpful links:

•  Summer 2008 Course Listing
•  Carolina Master Scholars
•  FAQ for Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series
•  Sample Weekly Schedule
•  Parents Info