HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Approval of Ocoee Youth Council Scholarship Award ProgramMeeting Date: December 5, 2023
Item #: 3
Contact Name: Melanie Sibbitt Department Director: Melanie Sibbitt
Contact Number: Ext. 1026 City Manager: Robert Frank
Background Summary:
During the City Commission Budget Workshop and Final Budget Meeting for FY 23-24, Commissioner
Kennedy requested the reallocation of $10,000 budgeted for the Youth Council Contract to go toward
scholarships and travel for the Ocoee Youth Council (OYC). At the November 7, 2023, Regular City
Commission Meeting, he requested City staff to provide the City Commission with a written Ocoee Youth
Council Scholarship Program for their review and approval. Attached is the basic outline of the program and
additional criteria may be added as the program grows.
Issue:
Should the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners approve the proposed Ocoee Youth Council
Scholarship Award Program?
Recommendations:
Staff recommends the Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners approve the proposed Ocoee Youth Council
Scholarship Award Program.
Attachments:
1. Ocoee Youth Council Scholarship Award Program
Financial Impacts:
Funds are adequately budgeted in the FY23-24 budget.
Type of Item: Consent
City of Ocoee - 1 N. Bluford Avenue - Ocoee, Florida 34761
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Ocoee Youth Council
Scholarship Award Program
Scholarship Qualification Guidelines
Each student must adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Exhibit a cooperative, respectful and enthusiastic attitude toward Youth Council members,
advisors, Commissioners, City Government staff and liaisons.
2. Actively participate in the projects and events sponsored by the OYC. Students must be
committed to complete tasks in a timely manner to successfully complete the activities and
projects undertaken by the Youth Council (as determined by the Youth Council and OYC
Coordinator).
3. Physically attend and participate in at least 75% of regular and special meetings;
conferences; community service; and at least attend one regularly scheduled City of
Ocoee Commission Meeting between August and April of each year.
4. Scholarship awards are only distributed during the student's senior year. Students must
participate and meet all requirements in their senior year to be eligible for the scholarship.
Scholarship Award
1. The total amount of scholarship awarded and distributed depends on the amount of money
budgeted towards the scholarships each year.
2. Each OYC member may qualify for up to $0 - $250 per year of participation on the Youth
Council, with the total scholarship amount based on dollars budgeted that year.
3. The accumulated scholarship shall be awarded to a Youth Council member only during their
graduating senior year of high school and they still must be a member of the Youth Council.
4. Scholarships shall be awarded following the OYC's final presentation to the Commission.
Note: The OYC Coordinator retains the right and responsibility as the final arbitrator of
scholarship qualifications. The OYC Coordinator may make determinations contrary to and/or
waive one or more of the qualification requirements noted above.
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Ocoee Youth Council
Scholarship Award Program
Scholarship Process
l . A copy of the scholarship guidelines and applicable forms will be provided to incoming OYC
members as part of their introductory membership packet each new calendar year.
2. Annually, by the final OYC meeting, the OYC Coordinator shall provide each OYC member
with a statement attesting whether the student met the scholarship qualification guidelines for
that year.
3. The OYC Coordinator will provide the City Commission with a list of qualified graduating
OYC members and the total amount of the scholarship award for each member.
4. Upon approval by the City Commission, staff will submit the necessary paperwork to the
Finance Department for preparation of the individual check(s).
5. At the conclusion of the annual report presentation by the Ocoee Youth Council, the checks
will be presented by the Mayor and City Commissioners at the second meeting in April or first
meeting in May.
OYC Coordinator Date
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