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Latest News from BECA.
The St. Mary's Common Scholarship Application for 2009 was due on March 14, 2009 and 198 applications were received. BECA's all volunteer Board has entered the data into a master database, copied and distributed the applications to the scholarship providers. Students who submitted an application received an email contribution in the last week of March. For those without a valid email, an automated phone call was made.
Thanks to the 200 people who attended BECA's 20th Anniversary Celebration, Friday, March 13th at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. Our own incredibly energetic and entertaining auctioneer, County Commissioner Dan Raley, helped BECA raise approximately $15,000 that will provide scholarships for deserverving county students. Thanks also to the businesses and individuals who donated items for the auction and all who made purchases.
Passports to the Future earned in the spring semester of 2007-2008 were distributed to students in November, 2008. A new list of discounts offered to students who earn a Passport is now available on this site.
The criteria for earning a Passport to the Future will change in the semester that begins in January 2009. The old criteria of five or fewer absences is replaced with the new criteria, no unexcused absences.
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 BECA's Yahoo Groups site, for BECA Board members only.
The mission of the Business, Education, Community Alliance (BECA) is:
| To build partnerships involving local businesses, the broader community and the school system in order to improve students’ success in school and enhance educational opportunities in St. Mary’s County. |
The organization was founded in 1989 by the St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce and the St. Mary’s County Public Schools.
BECA is supported by major employers and educators in our community such as St. Mary’s Hospital, SMECO, Anteon Corporation, Shah Associates, General Dynamics, St. Mary’s County Board of Education, and the College of Southern Maryland.
BECA has two key programs:
Passport to the Future, an award earned by high school students for academic achievement, citizenship and attendance. The Passport program is undergoing a major revision. Passport awards earned in the fall of 2007 have been delayed, but will be distributed soon, along with the Passports earned in spring, 2008. Businesses are signing up with new discounts for Passport holders.
Passport to Scholarships, which has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to students who earned at least five Passports to the Future in High School. BECA has created the St. Mary's County Common Application for Scholarships that allows students to apply for multiple local scholarships with one application. BECA has also created this website with a wealth of information (see student tab) to help students locate scholarships.
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