An opportunity to make a difference has been presented to us through the Abilene Education Foundation, a 501 C 3 institution, recently established. We (the class of 1958 committee) have set up a scholarship fund to benefit AHS graduates for post high school graduate studies. Other reunion AHS groups could add to the fund. It could make an exciting difference for AHS grads!   Here are the salient points of the program: There is a tremendous need for financial assistance for many of AHS’s graduating seniors. Recent demographic statistics/studies indicate that 65% of the graduating seniors are from families whose household incomes rank at or below the poverty level benchmark of the Federal and State government. This fact coupled with the continuing escalation of tuition fees, housing/board costs, books, student fees, and etc. makes it difficult for many graduating seniors to continue their education. AHS Class of 1958’s willingness to be the first class to promote contributions to a scholarship fund for AHS graduating seniors has provided the basis for a joint effort with the Abilene Education  Foundation, and the Community Foundation. of Abilene. Other graduating classes of AHS will be included in the contributions to the AHS Alumni Scholarship Fund. The AEF will manage the review of scholarship applicants (based on mutually agreeable criteria) and the Community Foundation of Abilene will act in the fiduciary role and in the management of the investment of the contributions to the endowment. The key points of the scholarship criteria: $1,000 scholarships per school year Renewable for 3 additional years as long as a 2.5 GPA is maintained  4-year University or 2-year Jr. College/Community College attendees would be eligible/ Scholarships may be used for direct costs including, tuition, academic fees, books and/or college sponsored room and board. To be eligible, a graduating AHS senior must:                                                                i.      Substantiate the financial need                                                              ii.      Must have a GPA of 85 or higher                                                             iii.      Must have Registration for 12 hours or more at a college or university                                                            iv.      Submit a written essay on “Why I want to attend college and how this scholarship will help meet that goal?”   In a nutshell:  A. the Reunion Classes of AHS provide the contributions to the endowment,  B. the Abilene Education Foundation manages the applications and subsequent selections and awards for scholarships, and  C. the Community Foundation of Abilene manages the invested funds and performs the fiduciary responsibility to see that the distribution of earnings from the endowment are being used within the wishes/intent of the donors/contributors to the endowment.   A contribution to this fund would be tax deductible – IF check is made directly to the Abilene Educational Foundation .. and not to the Reunion Committee. A form is provided in our “forms” section of the website. This would be a separate check, but perhaps sent in with your reunion reservation .. or if you cannot attend the reunion, sent to the committee, tabulated and the committee then would forward to the AHS Alumnai Scholarship Endowed Fund.   To be tax deductible it is important that your gift be made out payable to the Abilene Education Foundation and separate from the AHS Reunion party check.