Criteria for the scholarship included writing an essay on why the senior was studying a foreign language and how they planned to use those skills in the future. Applicants also had to state what they would do with the scholarship money and include a letter of recommendation. The deadline was March 30. To select their winner, Medina had a club meeting and handed out the essays to members. The applicants' names had been erased and they were only identified by number.
Students read each one and voted by ballot for the winner.
Just so there would be no doubts, I did the same thing with the principal. I told her if she had a chance to vote, which one would she select. She picked the same one, too. Medina did not vote. Although there were only three applicants this year, she said club members want to continue the scholarship next year, and they are hoping more students will apply.