Goal

The goal of the UCMC Steve Must Memorial Scholarship (SMMS) is to:

Further develop the outdoor leadership skills of UCMC student members who have proven commitment and leadership potential for the UCMC.

The UCMC as a whole will benefit tremendously from the development of active, committed members. This could be a crucial step to increasing the number of individuals who are willing and able to lead trips, teach courses, and help develop other emerging leaders within the UCMC. In pursuit of this goal, the UCMC may provide partial scholarships to selected student members to attend approved outdoor education programs.

 

Principles

The SMMS was developed with certain principles in mind. Since the UCMC is an undergraduate student group, funded significantly from general fees collected from undergraduate students, scholarship recipients shall be matriculated University of Cincinnati undergraduate students. The SMMS is considered an investment in which the UCMC seeks to maximize its return. Scholarships will be awarded based on the needs of the UCMC. The SMMS is not intended as an incentive program or a means of recognizing individuals.

 

Funding the SMMS

The UCMC should, when submitting its annual budget request, request funding for educating members. Other sources of funding from the university should also be explored. UCMC-generated funds may be budgeted for scholarships, as the executive committee deems appropriate. Tax-deductible donations to a special scholarship fund may be made through the university (by alumni, organizations, and others).

 

SMMS Administration

The UCMC Executive Committee will appoint a committee of five individuals to serve as the "Scholarship Committee". This committee should consist of two alumni, two students (graduate or undergraduate) who are not officers, and the UCMC University Advisor (committee chairperson). This committee will be appointed annually by the "outgoing" Executive Committee at the end of the Spring quarter.

 

To avoid the appearance of any conflicts of interest, the Scholarship Committee should consist of "disinterested" individuals. Because of the nature of the UCMC and the many close friendships that develop, there is always the potential for the appearance of conflicts of interest. The Scholarship Committee should be sensitive to this and proactively identify and address potential misunderstandings. Scholarship Committee members should abstain from the decision-making process when a family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, or close friend has applied for an SMMS scholarship. Likewise, the UCMC membership should trust that the Scholarship Committee will look out for the best interests of the UCMC.

 

The UCMC Executive Committee and Scholarship Committee will need to periodically review these policies and guidelines and evaluate their effectiveness for accomplishing the goal of the SMMS. Any necessary changes or clarifications should be documented herein and made public.

 

Role of the Executive Committee

The role of the Executive Committee in the administration of the SMMS will consist of the following:

• Appoint the members of the Scholarship Committee.
• Advertise the existence and purpose of the SMMS to the university community and within the UCMC membership
• Issue press releases announcing the names of award recipients, the amounts awarded, and the courses recipients will attend.
• Obtain funding for the SMMS from the university via all possible programs.
• Consider allocating some UCMC-generated funds to the SMMS.
• Advise the Scholarship Committee as they assess the developmental needs of the UCMC.
• Recommend to the Scholarship Committee possible clarifications or changes to the SMMS policies, guidelines, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria.
• Collect proposals from candidates and forward to the Scholarship Committee for review.
• Ensure, by whatever legal means are necessary, that any dispersed scholarship funds which the Scholarship Committee determines should be returned to the UCMC are indeed returned.
• Ensure that scholarship recipients have the opportunities to pass on the knowledge gained on their courses (by encouraging them to lead trips, organize courses, and make formal presentations at meetings).

 

Role of the Scholarship Committee

The role of the Scholarship Committee in the administration of the SMMS will consist of the following:

• Ensure that the UCMC membership understands the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for the SMMS.
• Ensure that the UCMC membership is aware of deadlines for the SMMS.
• Investigate outdoor leadership programs and course offerings that might meet developmental needs of the UCMC.
• Raise awareness amongst the UCMC membership of developmental opportunities.
• Seek donations from alumni and businesses and investigate the process for making those donations tax deductible for the donors.
• Assess the developmental needs of the UCMC.
• Review the SMMS policies, guidelines, eligibility requirements, and selection criteria for possible clarification or changes.
• Review proposals from candidates and verify accuracy of information presented therein.
• Determine who will receive scholarships, how much those scholarships will be, and for what courses those scholarships may be used.
• Ensure that scholarship recipients understand how the awards are to be used and that those funds must be returned to the UCMC if not used as prescribed by the Scholarship Committee.
• Verify successful completion of courses for which scholarships were awarded.
• Determine if any scholarship funds that were dispersed must be returned to the UCMC.

 

Timing and Deadlines

By the 5th week of the Fall and Spring quarters, the Executive Committee should inform the Scholarship Committee of the projected funds available for scholarship awards at the end of the Spring quarter. The projected funding will include all sources except donations. The Scholarship Committee should consider donations and announce an anticipated range of money to be awarded, eligibility requirements, and examples of factors that may influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions.

 

By the 5th week of the fall and Spring spring quarters, individuals seeking scholarships should submit to the Scholarship Committee a formal proposal. This proposal should detail the course the candidate wants to take and describe how they intend to utilize their experience to benefit the UCMC. The candidate should have already applied for any other scholarships or financial assistance that might be available. The Scholarship Committee will likely be looking to maximize the return on the available scholarship dollars so it would behoove a scholarship candidate to obtain as much funding from other sources as possible.

 

The Executive Committee should prepare a press release announcing the scholarship awards and make all possible preparations for its release.

 

By the last week of the fall and spring quarters the Scholarship Committee should announce the name(s) of the award recipient(s), the amount(s) of the award(s), and the course(s) that (each) award is valid for. Recipients must accept or decline awards within two weeks of when the announcement is made. Awards that are not accepted within that two-week period may be re-allocated.

 

In the event that a scholarship recipient does not successfully complete the course for which the award was designated, the UCMC will require that the award amount be refunded to the UCMC.

 

Selecting Scholarship Recipients

Throughout the school year, the Scholarship Committee, under advisement from the Executive Committee, shall assess the leadership development needs within the various disciplines (backpacking, canoeing, mountaineering, white water, etc.) of the UCMC. This factor should influence the decisions of the Scholarship Committee.

 

Seniority should not influence the Scholarship Committee's decisions. A freshman might dazzle the UCMC their first year or the consistent record of accomplishment of a junior might prevail. Never the less, the SMMS should not be viewed as a reward or incentive program.

 

The Scholarship Committee should focus on getting the maximum return on the UCMC's investment of training dollars. The decision making process should center around the following three questions within the constraints of the funds available:

1. What are the leadership development needs of the UCMC?

2. What programs and courses will best fill those needs?
3. Which candidates will best bring that knowledge and leadership back to the UCMC and pass it on?

Eligibility Criteria

A scholarship recipient must:

• Be a matriculated full- or part-time University of Cincinnati undergraduate student and must be a member of the UCMC.
• Have been a member of the UCMC, in good standing, for not less than eight months at the time the course begins.
• Have at least one year of undergraduate study remaining at the University of Cincinnati at the time the course begins.
• Show proof of a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 at the University of Cincinnati and must maintain this status up to the time the award is made.
• Show proof of a GPA of at least 2.0 for the two academic quarters immediately preceding the course.
• First apply for any other possible scholarships or financial aid.
• Have consistently demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to the UCMC.
• Submit to the UCMC Executive Committee a formal proposal as described below.

 

Formal Proposal

To apply to the SMMS, a candidate must submit a formal proposal. This proposal should be as detailed as possible. A complete proposal that anticipates and addresses questions and concerns, and requires very little follow-up or research would likely be viewed more favorably. Candidates should consider the developmental needs of the UCMC as they chose a course.

 

A formal proposal must include:

• A description of the course provider.
• Documentation from the course provider detailing the course curriculum, prerequisites, and costs.
• Proof that the candidate meets the eligibility requirements (prerequisites, insurance, medical exam, etc.) established by the course provider.
• Proof of medical insurance, student status, and GPA.
• Copies of completed applications for other scholarships and financial aid which would apply toward the desired course, along with copies of any resulting/related correspondence.

A formal proposal should describe in detail how the candidate has demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to the UCMC (as suggested below). The proposal should also include a detailed plan of how the candidate intends to pass on to the rest of the club, that what she or he learns.

 

Here are some of the proposals which resulted in scholarships:

Robert Sexton	Spring 1999	ACA - Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Annelies Koob + 3 others	Summer 1999	WMA- Wilderness First Responder
Robert Sexton	Summer 2000	ACA - Whitewater Kayaking Instructor

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Demonstrating Commitment and Leadership

The following are suggestions on how a potential scholarship recipient may demonstrate commitment and leadership:

• Actively welcome and get to know new members.
• Provide enthusiasm and encourage others.
• Create and/or post fliers for courses and events.
• Organize, lead, and/or help lead trips.
• Demonstrate a courteous and safety conscious attitude.
• Create and/or place advertisements in campus newspapers.
• Write an article for a campus newspaper.
• Help organize and/or teach UCMC courses.
• Demonstrate an eagerness to learn.
• Help prepare a budget proposal.
• Write an article for the Goosedown Gazette (the UCMC newsletter).
• Edit or otherwise help produce the Goosedown Gazette.
• Put on a presentation at a meeting.
• Serve as an officer or equipment manager.
• Assist with an Open House meeting.
• Help maintain or repair a some equipment.
• Assist with the UCMC web pages.
• Help maintain the UCMC phone list.
• Represent the UCMC at various meetings (Sports Board, Student Government, SOA, etc.).
• Hold office hours.
• Change the display case in TUC.
• Represent the UCMC at various events (freshman orientation, Earth Day, etc.).
• Hand out fliers on the bridge.

Who Was Steve Must And Why The UCMC Named a Scholarship In His Honor:

 

(The following is the text of the speech given by Bob Kessler, Club Alumni and friend of Steve, on the occassion of the renaming of the OLSP to the Steve Must Memorial Scholarship at the April 21, 1999 meeting of the UCMC)

"The Outdoor Leadership Scholarship Program was begun as a cooperation between alumni and the Mountaineering Club as a financial aid source for student members seeking advanced training in outdoor activities. The hope and aim of the scholarship is that recipients will bring their new found knowledge back to the UCMC and share it with everyone.

"Steve Must, a member of the Club since the mid 1980's, learned to love rock climbing and mountaineering through his association with the Club and its members. As he advanced in his skills, Steve would gladly share the knowledge and experience he gained with others in the UCMC. Steve would eventually leave us for the siren call of the Pacific Northwest where he spent many years mountaineering, including numerous trips with Fred Beckey (a world famous and historic figure in mountaineering); even traveling to China in his quest for new places to climb mountains.

"It seemed quite fitting and natural to rename the OLSP after Steve as a commemoration to his life and experiences in the out of doors. As a friend, I consider it an honor to recognize his achievements in this way. Although his death was much too soon, his life was certainly full and varied. We who knew him where enriched by the knowing of him. Those who receive scholarship under the banner of Steve's name will forever more be enriched by him too.

"A plaque has been created to mark the name change and to list the recipients of the scholarship. I would like to now present it and read it to you all.

"It reads:

The Steve Must Memorial Scholarship Established 1999 In memory of Steve, a beloved member of the University of Cincinnati Mountaineering Club. Both his service to the Club and his enthusiasm for mountain climbing personified the UCMC spirit of determination and adventure. This Scholarship is awarded to individuals who are pursuing advanced training and leadership skills in the many outdoor activities promoted by the Mountaineering Club.

"Thank you."