In Our 36^th Year Serving Barr-Reeve Graduates & Post Graduates

(https://www.barr.k12.in.us/en-us/br-scholarship-foundation-b9faf43a)

P. O. Box 25, Montgomery, IN 47558

Phone 812-787-1666 (Cell) – 812-486-3265 Ext. 255 (Office)

PLEASE MAKE YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO THE BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION –

If you now pay your bills electronically,  and you prefer to make a donation or payment on your BRSF Account electronically,  we do accept Credit Card or Via PayPal link – Please follow these instructions to make a payment electronically – In paying by this means, be sure to include your full name, maiden name and year of B-R graduation so your account can be accurately credited. 

Go to (1) Barr-Reeve Home page at  https://www.barr.k12.in.us/en-us/br-scholarship-foundation-b9faf43a  and (2) click onto BR Scholarship Foundation – There you will see a link that says “Donate with Credit Card or Via PayPal – FOR BARR-REEVE RECIPIENTS, A REPAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNT HELPS KEEP THE WORD “HONOR” IN YOUR HONOR  SCHOLARSHIP –

**** Officers ***

President – Charles Albert Kavanaugh

Vice-President – Aaron Ash

Treasurer – Tyson J. Wagler CPA

Secretary – Annetta Graber

Trustees – Andrea D. Huff - Superintendent, Jeffrey D. Doyle - Principal,

Chastity Sward – Barr-Reeve Guidance Counselor

 *** Former BRSF Officers ***

Richard Lemmon-Retired – Thomas Gallagher-Retired-Deceased

Alex M. Knepp – German American Bank Officer

BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION UNDERGOES RECENT REORGANIZATION

The BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION was initially chartered in February/March of 1988 as an affiliate of a national organization known as Citizens Scholarship Foundation of America. As the years passed, the national organization (CSFA) had its name shortened to Scholarship America with BRSF still associated as an affiliate.  In 2013 or thereabouts, Scholarship America underwent major national reorganization with by-laws that were unacceptable to BRSF Officers.  The BRSF Officers decided in the best interest of BRSF to become an independent entity – this involved filing and receiving from the US Internal Revenue Service 501 ( C)  (3) status as a public charity.

The first charter founders and officers of the Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation were Charles Albert Kavanaugh as President, Richard “Dick” Lemmon as Vice-President, Annetta Graber as Secretary, and Thomas “Tom” Gallagher as Treasurer.  Charter officers Kavanaugh and Graber still remain in their respective positions.  Presently, Aaron Ash, B-R Assistant Principal and Athletic Director has taken the position of Vice-President held by Richard Lemmon – In September of 2007, Thomas Gallagher resigned the treasurer’s position passing the position along to current Treasurer, Tyson Wagler-CPA. 

In recent years, with the growing number of BRSF recipient accounts, the addition of the Kendall J. Murphy Viking Promise Scholarship Program within the BRSF and the advancing age of the remaining charter member officers, concerns were growing for the future operations of BRSF.  With these considerations, as of January 1, 2023, the Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation now becomes an agency of Barr-Reeve Community Schools – The Barr-Reeve High School Administrators are now listed at Trustees of the Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation.

HOW MUCH MONETARY COMPENSATION HAVE & DO BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION OFFICERS RECEIVE?

It’s a fair question to be asked this day and age – From the very beginnings in February/ March of 1988 to this very day and year, the answer is very simple and straight forward – No officer has or does receive any monetary compensation – Each of these officer positions have been and still is a VOLUNTEER JOB and expectation – All donations from whatever source and for whatever reason plus honor scholarship repays are recycled into honor scholarships for present and future Barr-Reeve honor scholarship recipients.  A very Special Thank You and Recognition is extended to the Administrations of Barr-Reeve Community Schools for the many ways in which they have encouraged the beginnings and growth of the Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation.  Without that initial and continuing support, the existence of the Barr-Reeve Scholarship Foundation would not have ever happened or continue to be possible.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION?

The expressed purpose from its first awards to the 1989 Barr-Reeve graduate recipients to this very year is to award honor scholarships to deserving graduates and post graduates of Barr-Reeve.  Its functions are four-fold:  to continue the operational process, to promote the honor scholarship program, to continue raising funds for honor scholarship distribution and to award all honor scholarships on a fair, equitable and nondiscriminatory basis to deserving Barr-Reeve graduates and post graduates provided they do apply and re-apply on a yearly basis. 

WHAT IS A BARR-REEVE HONOR SCHOLARSHIP?

An Honor Scholarship is not a free handout of money – the “Honor Scholarship” is actually a “no interest loan” which the recipient promises to repay at some point in time when he or she has completed their course of study or has discontinued attending college or schooling and has begun earning an income of their own.  This is the philosophy on which the BRSF was founded – “To provide a helping hand and encouragement to the graduate, not just a handout!”  This is not free money but the use of it to help finance a recipient’s schooling is free.  No interest has ever or will ever be charged.  As of March 1, 2023, a total of $306,137,00 that was originally awarded as Honor Scholarships has been repaid or returned to be awarded again as honor scholarships – in this way the recipient is keeping the “Honor” in Honor Scholarship” as a Barr-Reeve Promise Keeper.   

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A BARR-REEVE HONOR SCHOLARSHIP?

(1)   Any graduating Barr-Reeve Senior who has attained an academic achievement record of 2.0 GPA or better after seven semesters of high school.

(2)   A school attendance record that has been judged to be acceptable by the BRSF Awards Committee.  Special situations are considered on an individual basis.

(3)   An applicant must be planning to attend a certified four year college, a two year college program or a vocational training program. 

(4)   Before an Honor Scholarship check is issued to a college freshman recipient, he or she must provide a copy of their class schedule for the upcoming semester, or a statement of semester fees, or for freshmen students a letter of acceptance from the school they are planning to attend.

HOW MUCH WILL AN HONOR SCHOLARSHIP BE WORTH FROM YEAR TO YEAR?

For B-R Senior Graduate Recipients, the amount has been $300 per recipient for the past several years – this is due to the fact that most B-R senior graduate recipients will also be applying to the Barr-Reeve  Arvin-Canolty Fund which is “free money” which may provide as much as $700 or more for that year depending on the number of applicants each year – That fund is available only to B-R Seniors as stated by the original donor.  In recent years, for BRSF recipients at the sophomore, junior, senior or 5^th year applying, the amount has been $800 for the year divided into two semesters – that divides into $400 for each semester.  The amount available each year depends on the amount of alumni donations, memorial gifts, dividends from endowment funds, and yes, certainly the amount of paybacks from previous honor scholarship recipients.  It should be an added incentive and encouragement to Honor Scholarship recipients knowing their HONOR SCHOLARSHIP REPAYS become Honor Scholarship dollars for present and future Barr-Reeve Graduate Recipients thus identifying themself as a BARR-REEVE PROMISE KEEPER!

IS AN HONOR SCHOLARSHIP RENEWABLE FOR ADDITIONAL YEARS OF SCHOOLING?

Obviously, the answer is “Yes”, provided the recipient does re-apply before August 1^st of each year and provide proof of academic progress – a copy of the recipient’s most recent grade report is ample proof of academic progress.  Since 1997, BRSF has been able to follow Barr-Reeve graduate/recipients through their four or five year college experience with some receiving $3000 or more collectively in honor scholarship assistance.  

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AFTER 34 YEARS OF SERVING BARR-REEVE GRADUATES AND POST GRADUATES?

Since the first year of awarding 11 honor scholarships to recipients in the Barr-Reeve Graduating Class of 1989, BRSF has now made available to 729 B-R graduates and post graduates a total of over $661,650.00 in honor scholarship assistance.  To date, May 1, 2023, a total of $312,597.00 has been repaid or returned to be recycled again as honor scholarships.  Funds for these honor scholarships have come from repayments from former honor scholarship recipients, dividends from BRSF funds in the Daviess County Community Foundation, plus donations from many alumni, memorial gifts, silent donors gifts, The Thomas Jeffrey “Jeff” Craney/Beverly Mellars-Craney Memorial Education Assistance Fund now in its 12^th year and The Jams Don and Ida Bullock/James Omer and Beatrice Bullock Family Memorial Educational Assistance Fund now in its 23^rd year of operation.  Honor Scholarship repays and returns have come from more than 450 B-R recipients – In this way, we are keeping the “Honor” in Honor Scholarship as BARR-REEVE PROMISE KEEPERS!

HOW CAN A DONOR HELP THE BARR-REEVE SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE?

All contributions, regardless of size, or for whatever reason are important!  With the cost of higher education increasing, many students are needing sufficient funds to make their educational dreams come true.  Together we can pool our funds to help deserving students reach their goals.  It is this sort of working together and sharing that has strengthened the unity of our community in other times of need and worthy causes.  A possible donor might consider something for the future in the way of a will bequeath.  We need to continue to let our young people know we do appreciate them, support them and are pulling for them to be successful.  Let our support of our younger generation be yet another dimension of the Barr-Reeve Challenge – “We Dream Dreams of Things That Never Have Been And Ask…..Why Not!”