Monday, November 15, 2010

Application Process

How far we have come! 


Every once in a while I am in awe of all the hard work we have been putting forth and all the great things we have accomplished so far this year, yet when I stop to consider the love all of us have for this trip I am not surprised at all. The amount of dedication and passion involved in the creation of this trip so far is overwhelming. 


Applications were due on Friday November 12th by 5 PM and the trip leaders met at 4:30 to look them over. There was a total of 40 applicants for a possible 24 spots (the 6 spots already filled up are the chaperone's, LaDonna Bridges, Rachael Lucking, and Angel Seto and the 3 trip leaders). We received many excellent applications and were thrilled with the passion put forth in the answers. Many people deserve to be on this trip and the decision was not an easy one.


The applications were all typed up and numbered to ensure that no names were involved. Each of the trip leaders was handed a thick pile of paper and for the next 6 hours we intently read through and considered each application. Each of the applications received a number grade based on the answers and then the 3 grades (from each of the leaders) were averaged and the highest scored applicants filled the available spots. 


After making the list of the 24 accepted students, we finally looked at the list of names. I believe that each of us felt a harsh sting when we saw names on the wait-list that we wanted to be on this trip. Although we were disappointed that some of our friends were not first to be picked, we all agree that this was the fairest way for the members to be chosen.


All applicants have been notified of their standing. The students we have accepted have until the 22nd to accept or deny the spot on the trip. This ensures the wait-list candidates a remaining possibility of being included into the trip. 


I can speak for all of the trip leaders when I say we are thrilled to move forward in the project. All the applicants that have been chosen will be nothing short of an amazing and unique contribution to this trip!


Be Well,
Kendra Sampson