All Wisconsin seventh and eighth graders are encouraged to apply.

Typed or word-processed applications are preferred. Handwritten applications must be legible.

Applicants must submit the Application Cover Sheet, detailed project proposal, and mentor's statement of intent directly to the WCATY office.

In addition to the original set of materials, submit THREE photocopies on 8 ½'' by 11'' paper for a total of FOUR completed applications. If possible, four copies of any other items submitted with the proposal (pictures, audiotapes, etc.) should be sent as well.

Each set of application materials should be fastened together in proper order, with paper clips or staples. Do not send binders or notebooks.

It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure that the educator reference letter and three photocopies of this letter are received in the WCATY office no later than April 18, 2008.

1. The project must involve six weeks of concentrated work in a specific field of study. A grantee should not plan to work on the project while attending a summer academic program or camp. The applicant may work around other activities, but plans for multiple summer commitments should be explained in the proposal.

2. The project must be initiated by the applicant and the proposal must be in the student's own words. Flexibility in project development is encouraged. The proposal signifies commitment, capability, and quality design, but it should not limit the creativity of the grantee during the project period.

3. All projects require a mentor, or a "guide on the side." This person should be able to facilitate other contacts that the student might need to make. The mentor should meet with the grantee at least once a week during the course of study and for a minimum of 10 hours during the six-week project.

4. All projects are to result in a final product. While the learning process itself is of central importance, a product provides structure and closure to the process. Thus, the project proposal must establish a timeline and a way in which the project will be shared with the grantee's school, community, or other audience.

5. The final product must be submitted to WCATY. The final product can be in the form of a videotape, audiotape, musical score, computer program, model, poster display, photographs, or another format. If the final product is a description of the learning process, grantees may submit a journal or a written report describing the process.

6. In addition to the final product, the grantee must submit a final report using the WCATY Final Report Form (which will be sent to all grantees upon notification of the grant award). The student is also required to submit evaluations and a copy of a thank you letter sent to his/her sponsor.

7. The mentor must submit an evaluation of the student's work within thirty days of project completion.

Background: This section should present your academic background as it relates to your project idea. Explain your interest in the topic and how you developed your idea. Share your prior knowledge about this topic (what you already know versus what you want to find out).

Work Plan: Outline the major objectives and procedures. How will you start? What research will you do? What timeline will you follow for the summer? What do you hope the final product will be? How do you expect to reach that goal? How will your mentor help you? Discuss the things you want to learn and the resources you will use, any experiments you plan to do (if appropriate), and include a bibliography of resources. Be sure to consider potential obstacles or problems you will need to overcome. Include a detailed week-by-week plan.

Audience: Explain how you plan to share your results with your school, your community, and WCATY.

Outcomes: Tell how or why the project will contribute to your intellectual and/or talent development and/or explain the benefit of the project to you in the future.

Restrictions:

• An individual may submit only one application.

• Parents or guardians of applicants may not write reference letters or serve as project mentors.

• Mentors may work with only one grantee during the project period.

• Joint projects by two or more individuals are not allowed.

• The mentor must be qualified in the field of the project study.

• A previous Young Scholar grant award winner may apply again. However, the project should be sufficiently different from or go significantly beyond the work of the previous project.

NOTE: Applicants will receive notification of grant status around mid-April.

 

Mentor Statement of Intent

The following should be included in the mentor's statement of intent letter. The project mentor should:

1.  Discuss how he/she views the mentor role in the project and his/her qualifications to carry out this role.
   

2. Include reference to the expected amount of time and number of meetings with the applicant and how he/she plans to meet this obligation.
   

3. Comment on the value of the project for the student.
   

4. Agree to submit an evaluation of the project within thirty days of project completion.

NOTE: The mentor's signature on the letter and on the Application Cover Sheet certifies acceptance of the proposal, a commitment to facilitate the study if the project is funded, and a promise to complete the final evaluation report.

Educator Reference Letter

Please note the following requirements with regard to the reference letter submitted by a professional educator:

•  Approximately one typed page is to be submitted to WCATY along with three photocopies. An application will not be reviewed without receipt of the reference letter.
  

• The applicant should provide the educator with a stamped envelope addressed to WCATY, 433 West Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703.

• The letter should evaluate the applicant's ability related to the field of study and commitment to carry out the project.

• The reference letter must be from someone other than the mentor.

DEADLINE: Applications and references must be postmarked no later than March 21, 2008. Send applications to:

WCATY

Young Scholar Project Program

433 West Washington Avenue

Madison, WI 53703

608-271-1617

If you have any additional questions, please contact WCATY.

Funding for the 2008 Young Scholar Program is provided by American Family Insurance. WCATY is grateful for American Family's support.