What is Strive?What is Strive?

A scholarship and mentoring program A scholarship and mentoring program to help students improve grades, to help students improve grades,

attendance, and school performance.attendance, and school performance.

Who sponsors and supports Who sponsors and supports STRIVE?STRIVE?

Rotary Club of Maple GroveRotary Club of Maple Grove Volunteers from Rotary and the community.Volunteers from Rotary and the community.

Maple Grove Senior High SchoolMaple Grove Senior High School Osseo Senior High SchoolOsseo Senior High School North Hennepin Community CollegeNorth Hennepin Community College Hennepin Technical CollegeHennepin Technical College Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeAnoka-Ramsey Community College

Who is Strive for?Who is Strive for?

Students coming in to their senior year who Students coming in to their senior year who have GPA’s in the lower 1/3 of their class.have GPA’s in the lower 1/3 of their class.

Students who have a desire to be more Students who have a desire to be more successful in school.successful in school.

Students who want to attend post-secondary Students who want to attend post-secondary education, and may need financial assistance education, and may need financial assistance to do so.to do so.

Why is Strive important?Why is Strive important?

Because we know these students have greater Because we know these students have greater potential than they have shown in the past. Most are potential than they have shown in the past. Most are as intelligent as those on the A honor roll, but have as intelligent as those on the A honor roll, but have simply “lost their way”.simply “lost their way”.

Because we believe that we can provide these Because we believe that we can provide these students with new ways of doing things and a students with new ways of doing things and a stimulation to try them.stimulation to try them.

““If you keep on doing what you have always done, If you keep on doing what you have always done, you will keep on getting what you have always got!”you will keep on getting what you have always got!”

Strive Works!Strive Works!

Statistically, 75-80% of those who made the Statistically, 75-80% of those who made the commitment to Strive criteria improved their commitment to Strive criteria improved their GPA. These students had a 91% attendance GPA. These students had a 91% attendance average. They knew that the school and the average. They knew that the school and the community were pulling for them through the community were pulling for them through the efforts of the volunteers at the Strive “Power efforts of the volunteers at the Strive “Power Meetings”.Meetings”.

History of StriveHistory of Strive

Strive was started in 1991 by a Rotarian, Don Strive was started in 1991 by a Rotarian, Don Mooney, in White Bear Lake.Mooney, in White Bear Lake.

Since then, hundreds of Rotary Clubs Since then, hundreds of Rotary Clubs throughout the United States have started throughout the United States have started Strive in their local schools.Strive in their local schools.

Maple Grove Rotary began Strive at Osseo in Maple Grove Rotary began Strive at Osseo in 1995, and several years later expanded to 1995, and several years later expanded to include Maple Grove.include Maple Grove.

The mechanics of StriveThe mechanics of Strive

Prior to the start of school in the fall, letters of Prior to the start of school in the fall, letters of invitation to an orientation meeting are sent to invitation to an orientation meeting are sent to students that qualify for Strive.students that qualify for Strive.

Students who attend the orientation are asked Students who attend the orientation are asked to make a commitment to join the program.to make a commitment to join the program.

A schedule of “Power Meeting” dates, times, A schedule of “Power Meeting” dates, times, and rooms is developed and distributed to the and rooms is developed and distributed to the volunteers and students.volunteers and students.

The mechanics, continuedThe mechanics, continued

A record is made of each student’s cumulative A record is made of each student’s cumulative GPA to get a starting point to gauge change.GPA to get a starting point to gauge change.

Volunteers meet with the students 16 – 17 Volunteers meet with the students 16 – 17 times throughout the year, at the school, times throughout the year, at the school, during class times.during class times.

A banquet is held prior to the end of the school A banquet is held prior to the end of the school year to celebrate the students participation in year to celebrate the students participation in Strive. Each student is allowed two guests.Strive. Each student is allowed two guests.

The mechanics, continuedThe mechanics, continued

Pictures are taken of the students and Pictures are taken of the students and volunteers at each school to be used for a news volunteers at each school to be used for a news article in the Osseo/Maple Grove Press.article in the Osseo/Maple Grove Press.

After the school year ends and grades are After the school year ends and grades are computed, an awards presentation is done at a computed, an awards presentation is done at a regularly scheduled Rotary meeting.regularly scheduled Rotary meeting.

The Strive CommitmentThe Strive Commitment

Accept Strive by signing the commitment Accept Strive by signing the commitment form.form.

Attend classes regularly.Attend classes regularly. Report to classes on time.Report to classes on time. Bring appropriate learning materials to class.Bring appropriate learning materials to class. Participate in the learning activities.Participate in the learning activities. Treat others with respect and dignity.Treat others with respect and dignity. Obey reasonable requests of the teachers.Obey reasonable requests of the teachers.

What happens at Strive What happens at Strive “Power Meetings”?“Power Meetings”?

The class size can vary from 15 to 45 students The class size can vary from 15 to 45 students at each school for any given year.at each school for any given year.

There is a lead facilitator at each school.There is a lead facilitator at each school. We try to have a minimum 1-to-5 ratio of We try to have a minimum 1-to-5 ratio of

volunteers to students to facilitate small group volunteers to students to facilitate small group discussions.discussions.

After the short presentation of the topic of the After the short presentation of the topic of the day, we break up into small groups as often as day, we break up into small groups as often as possible to help get all students involved.possible to help get all students involved.

““Power Meeting” TopicsPower Meeting” Topics Introductions and expectations.Introductions and expectations. Improvement requires change: Attitude 1.Improvement requires change: Attitude 1. College check-in, grants and scholarships.College check-in, grants and scholarships. Goal setting.Goal setting. Time management.Time management. Career Day.Career Day. Making good choices, decision making.Making good choices, decision making. Improvement requires change: Habits.Improvement requires change: Habits. Building self confidence, overcoming obstacles.Building self confidence, overcoming obstacles. Improvement requires change: Attitude 2.Improvement requires change: Attitude 2. Friend raising, networking.Friend raising, networking. Improvement requires change: Organization.Improvement requires change: Organization. Stress reduction.Stress reduction. Ethics and morality.Ethics and morality. Positive & negative influencesPositive & negative influences Setting priorities – family, friends & work.Setting priorities – family, friends & work.

Strive ScholarshipsStrive Scholarships

Each scholarship awarded is funded by Maple Each scholarship awarded is funded by Maple Grove Rotary and matched by the Foundation Grove Rotary and matched by the Foundation of the College of choice.of the College of choice.

To date the partners with Maple Grove Rotary To date the partners with Maple Grove Rotary are North Hennepin Community College, are North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin Technical College, and Hennepin Technical College, and Anoka/Ramsey Community College. More Anoka/Ramsey Community College. More will be added in time.will be added in time.

Strive Scholarship AwardsStrive Scholarship Awards(At Each School)(At Each School)

Most Improved GPAMost Improved GPA $2000 Scholarship (when matched).$2000 Scholarship (when matched).

Second Most Improved GPASecond Most Improved GPA $1000 Scholarship (when matched).$1000 Scholarship (when matched).

Third Most Improved GPAThird Most Improved GPA $600 Scholarship (when matched).$600 Scholarship (when matched).

Best Attendance to ClassesBest Attendance to Classes $400 Scholarship (when matched).$400 Scholarship (when matched).

Celebration BanquetCelebration Banquet

For all Strive students (and two guests, For all Strive students (and two guests, preferably their parents or guardians).preferably their parents or guardians).

Luncheon at Edinburgh USA Golf Club.Luncheon at Edinburgh USA Golf Club. Recognition of students with presentations by:Recognition of students with presentations by:

Rotarians.Rotarians. Past and present Strive students.Past and present Strive students. School representatives.School representatives. Partnering College representatives.Partnering College representatives.

Group pictures of each Strive Program.Group pictures of each Strive Program.

Maple Grove Strive, 2004Maple Grove Strive, 2004

Osseo Strive, 2004Osseo Strive, 2004

Testimonials from StudentsTestimonials from Students

““It really gave me the It really gave me the encouragement to do encouragement to do my best and not slack my best and not slack off so much.”off so much.”

““I like that they taught I like that they taught me to organize my me to organize my time and I do now.”time and I do now.”

““Gets you motivated to Gets you motivated to do better, helps you do better, helps you start out somewhere.”start out somewhere.”

Testimonials from StudentsTestimonials from Students

““You get ideas of how to You get ideas of how to improve grades and habits.”improve grades and habits.”

““I like the free food.”I like the free food.” ““I think it helps kids realize I think it helps kids realize

you don’t need to be really you don’t need to be really smart to succeed. You just smart to succeed. You just need to apply yourself.”need to apply yourself.”

““Helped me to set goals and Helped me to set goals and plan.”plan.”

Strive is a Beautiful Thing!Strive is a Beautiful Thing!