Making memories possible – BRT’s travel scholarship

Aug 16, 2018

Travel Notes

Giving students the gift of travel is the dream of directors and parents alike, in schools across the country. Though every group we partner with follows a fundraising plan to make travel more accessible for students, the cost of a trip is sometimes more than a family can afford. To make the dream of travel a reality for students with financial needs, we created the Bob Rogers Travel Moments That Matter Travel Scholarship in 2013.

Every year, we open our scholarship competition to students who are enrolled in a school or educational program that is planning a future tour with BRT. In 2018, we received 319 student applications and chose 28 recipients. As our team reads the essay applications we received, we found ourselves cheering for each of these student performers. We were equally moved by their stories and marveled by their persuasive writing skills. Choosing this year’s recipients was far from easy, but we were thrilled to award them with the financial assistance to experience the performance tour of their dreams. Here’s a glimpse into the powerful submissions we received:

“During my stay in New York, I hope to make many memories of my own. Although I watch the parades every year on TV and read about New York in a textbook, one of my dreams is to be able to visit the city where my grandmother entered the U.S. and where my mother was born. I am the granddaughter of an immigrant, the daughter of a native New Yorker, and small town 16 year old girl who wants to experience all this amazing city has to offer. With the help of this shcalorship, I can do just that and also share the trip with everyone back home.”

 “Currently I am working with my band director and faculty at Ohio University in assiting one of my bandmates who has a rare health condition; designing equipment and methods so she can participate and be an active member of our band. I assist her during marching band as she uses specialized technology to play, and needs someone to help her while we march. I tell you this because I have an immense passion to help other who are struggling just as I did and sometimes still do.”

I am proud of the values my parents have instilled in me. They remind me often that we can have great family moments and creat memories without spending money. Because they ended up in jobs that are more service oriented, money for “extras” is hard to come by. I respect the fact they put their pssion for performing aside to make things possible for my brother and I.”

These students want to travel – but more than that, they want to experience life outside of the world they know. And it’s our incredible honor to give them that opportunity. For more information about our Moments that Matter scholarship, visit our website. Additionally, we partner with the Student Youth Travel Association (SYTA) to offer the SYTA Youth Foundation’s Road Scholarship. For information about that program, visit the Foundation’s website.

 

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