YAANW Book Award Program: 2002
This spring the association awarded books to 67 Minnesota high school juniors chosen by their principals and counselors for outstanding character and intellectual promise. The Yale Book Award program serves to bring Yale to the attention of school advisors and to area juniors who are good prospects for admission. While many of Yale's alumni chapters run a Book Award Program, YAANW is proud to run one of the most ambitious programs designed to reach recipients from all parts of the state. In fact, our plan is to expand the program to cover schools in western Wisconsin.
A mailing was sent to over 130 schools requesting their participation in the program and their nomination of a deserving student. In addition to a book entitled My Brush With History: By 95 Americans Who Were There, students received a personalized bookplate, a brochure on Yale College and a congratulatory letter inviting the student to learn more about Yale and to contact our ASC coordinator with questions. The books, which were paid for by the YAANW treasury and subsidized by Ruminator Books, were delivered to the principals and counselors for presentation at awards ceremonies.
The program is very well received by administrators and students alike. In addition to the core schools who have participated in the program for many years, three new schools joined the program this year. We were pleased to hear many counselors express their enthusiasm for the project. Their stories suggest that it is an inspiration for juniors to learn that their hard work can be recognized. Many students view the receipt of the YAANW Book Award as a sign they are on the right path toward additional recognition during their senior year.
In addition to YAANW's fiscal resources, volunteers make this program possible! Sue Patton took over the project organization from Jack Rosholt who organized the program for several years. Among those helping with deliveries were Conley Brooks Jr., David Griffith, Jan Kleinman, Rick Luis, Bill Opsahl, Kent Peckel, Jack Rosholt, Kate Sandweiss, Bob Sidenberg, and David Weyerhauser. Many thanks go out to our alumni volunteers for their effort to build relationships with area high schools and prospective students.
If you are interesting in learning more about the program or helping with the program next year, please don't hesitate to contact Sue Patton.