2015
CHRISTIAN SERVICE
AWARD
Purpose:
The purpose of the Christian Service Award is to recognize graduating High School seniors from
Bureau County high schools who demonstrate exemplary Christ-centered behavior through
volunteer service to church, school, and community. Christian Service is defined as acts which
stem from a Christ-centered belief in serving the Lord and doing His will. Service is the selfless
giving of oneself to benefit others with no expectation of recognition, reward, or
acknowledgement.
Guiding Principles:
Ideal Christian Service Award recipients display a love and understanding of their Christian faith;
articulate a commitment, not just to performing acts of service, but to living a Christ focused life;
demonstrate awareness that their gifts are blessings from God; and provide persuasive evidence
of their intelligence, maturity, humility, and leadership ability in the kingdom of God.
Sponsored By:
Christian Churches of Bureau County, IL.
Value:
The Christian Service Award is a $1,000 scholarship awarded to students for tuition
assistance to attend a college of their choice. Scholarships are paid directly to their school.
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
• Be devoted followers of Jesus Christ
• Demonstrate their devotion to Jesus through acts of service to church, school, and
community.
• Graduating senior from a Bureau County high school
• Preference is given to applicants who are going into full time vocational Christian
Service. However, this is not required to apply.
Deadline:
Completed application packets, including all required documents (Student Application, three
Service Record forms, three sealed Reference Letters, and Essay) must be postmarked no
later than April 1st 2015
Selection Process:
A committee consisting of up to 10 representatives from the local churches of Bureau County
will convene to review scholarships and make the determination.
the award recipient will be announced and given at the 2015 Baccalaureate service. In the
event the school has no Baccalaureate service, other arrangments will be made.
Applicants must be present to receive award.
Instructions to Apply:
Applications will be available in the guidance offices of each of the county High School. They
will also be made available to the Christian churches in Bureau County.
All completed applications are to be mailed to:
Hampshire Colony Congregational Church
C/O: Christian Service Award Committee
604 South Church Street
Princeton, IL 61356
All applicants must complete the following three parts of the application.
1. References: Submit three required letters of reference with your application packet from:
a) your pastor, (priest) or other clergy member
b) a current or former teacher or principal; and
c) a current or former supervisor at the place of your community volunteer work that is
listed on your Community Service Record (do not submit a letter from your church,
school, family member or friend to fulfill this requirement).
You may use the Request for Reference Letter form(s) in this application packet to request
each of the letters of reference.
Each letter should be returned to you in a sealed envelope from the author. If the letter is
not in a sealed envelope, please request that the writer place it in a sealed envelope
before returning it to you.
Submit the three letters of reference with your completed application packet.
Do not mail them separately.
2. Service Records: Please complete in as great a detail as possible, a listing of all of
your activities during your high school career that exemplified outstanding Christian
service to each of the areas of church, school, and community.
3. Essays
Please complete two short essays and include them with your application. Essays
are to be double spaced, Times New Roman font 12, and not to exceed 500 words.
Essay one: Please describe your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Include
your conversion experience, significant moments, and how your relationship with
Jesus impacts your life today.
Essay two: Read and reflect on the scripture passage from Mark 10:44-45 (New
International Version):
..Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for
many.”
Explain what this scripture passage means to you and how it affects your life. You
are encouraged to share one or two personal experiences of how this scripture
passage has impacted your life.
Student Application
Student Name: _______________________________________________________
Father’s Name: ___________________________ Mother’s
Name:______________________
Address: ______________________________________________
City: __________________________ State: ___________ Zip Code: _________________
Date of Birth:____________________________ Home
Phone:_______________________
Cell Phone: ________________
E-Mail Address: ____________________@_________________________
Current Church: ___________________________ How long: ___________
Are you a member? ______________
Previous Church: ___________________ How long? _________________
Were you a member? ______________
Are you planning on entering full time vocational Christian service?
What are your vocational plans?
College/University attending _________________________________________
Address of College/University _______________________________________
City __________________
State ______________
Have you been accepted? ________
What major are you planning on studying?
Zip Code __________
Service to Local Church
Local Church service is that which the student does to serve the church and/or assist in furthering
its mission. For example: mission trips, choir, Sunday school assistance, nursery worker, etc…
One a separate paper, please present typed, a list of your service activities during your high
school years. Please follow this format:
Church:
Service Activity:
Approx dates
Brief explanation
School Service Record
School service is that which the student does to serve or assist the school outside of school/
class. For example: after-school tutoring, organizations, teacher’s assistant, office helper,
student council, and choir/band/dance/drama performances, etc..
Please list on separate sheet of paper, typed, your service to the school in the following
format:
Organization
Service
Approx dates
Brief Explanation
Community Service Record
Community service is that which the student does to promote the community and assist non-profit
organizations. For example: volunteering at hospitals or non-profit organizations, working with
children or the elderly, service projects done through scouting, and choir/band/dance/drama
performances for the elderly, involvement in Young Life, etc…
Please list on separate sheet of paper, typed, your service to the school in the following
format:
Organization
Service
Approx dates
Brief Explanation
Request for Reference Letter from Pastor/Priest
(Applicant - please use this form to request a letter of reference from your Pastor, or
Priest.
Dear ______________________________,
I am applying for the Christian Service Award. This is a college scholarship for those who
exemplify outstanding Christian Service. The primary criteria for this award is the demonstration
of Christian belief in everyday life through volunteer service to my church, school and
community. I believe I demonstrate these values and a Christ-centered love for others. Would
you please take a moment to compose a typed, one page letter of reference for me? In your
letter, please include the following:
•the name of our church
•the capacity in which you know me (i.e., current or previous pastor) and for how long
•how I demonstrate Christian values through my service to our church
•any comments which you feel would be helpful to the awards committee
•your contact information
Please return your letter of recommendation to me in a sealed envelope with my name on the
front, for inclusion in my final application packet.
I am most grateful for your assistance.
Student Name
Student Signature
Date
Request for Reference Letter from School
(Applicant - please use this form to request a letter of reference from a current or former
teacher or principal.)
Dear ______________________________,
I am applying for the Christian Service Award. This is a college scholarship for those who
exemplify outstanding Christian Service. The primary criteria for this award is the demonstration
of Christian beliefs in my everyday life through volunteer service to my church, school and
community. I believe I demonstrate these values and a Christ-centered love for others. Would
you please take a moment to compose a typed, one page letter of reference for me? In your
letter, please include the following:
•the capacity in which you know me (i.e., current or former teacher or principal)
and for how long
•how I demonstrate Christian values through my service to our school
•any comments which you feel would be helpful to the awards committee
•your contact information
Please return your letter of recommendation to me in a sealed envelope with my name on the
front, for inclusion in my final application packet.
I am most grateful for your assistance.
Student Name
Student Signature
Date
Request for Reference Letter for Community Service
(Applicant - please use this form to request a letter of reference from a current or former
supervisor at one of the organizations listed on your Community Service Sheet.)
Dear ______________________________,
I am applying for the Christian Service Award. This is a college scholarship for those who
exemplify outstanding Christian Service. The primary criteria for this award is the demonstration
of Christian beliefs in my everyday life through volunteer service to my church, school and
community. I believe I demonstrate these values and a Christ-centered love for others. Would
you please take a moment to compose a typed, one page letter of reference for me? In your
letter, please include the following:
•the name of the community organization
•the capacity in which you know me, and for how long
•how I demonstrate Christian beliefs through my service to my community
•any comments which you feel would be helpful to the awards committee
•your contact information
Please return your letter of recommendation to me in a sealed envelope with my name on the
front, for inclusion in my final application packet
Student Name
Student Signature
Date