RAMI Youth Charity Jam Scholarship
Purpose:
To provide educational resources for students who wish to pursue an education in music and have financial need. This scholarship is funded in part or in whole by RAMI’s Youth Charity Jam event.
Criteria:
Graduating senior from Boone or Winnebago County who has a GPA of at least 2.5, plans to pursue a degree in music performance, education or composition and is actively involved in school or community musical groups. Students must demonstrate financial need and be nominated by a music teacher. Preference will be given to students who will attend Rock Valley College, Rockford College or Northern Illinois University.
Deadline: February 1
Youth Charity Jam
First held in June of 2003, Youth Charity Jam was the brainchild of the In Youth We Trust Advisory Council, a program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. The Council created the event as a way to engage youth across the community in philanthropic fundraising. The group established an event that was planned by youth for youth and used teen bands. The first year’s attendance was only 100 people, but by 2007, Youth Charity Jam boasted an attendance of more than 500 teens. When In Youth We Trust realized that the event needed professional management, it turned to the Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) organization to carry on the event. At the time, In Youth We Trust transferred the event to RAMI, Youth Charity Jam had raised over $20,000 for the Community Foundation Scholarship Fund.
Since RAMI has taken on the event, Youth Charity Jam’s attendance and success has continued to grow. The winner of each year’s event plays at the Annual RAMI Awards and many participating bands have played at other events arranged by RAMI. Youth Charity Jam has also been moved to the Tebala Shrine Temple which features a large stage conducive to the enhanced lighting and sound provided by RAMI professionals. Attendance has continued to climb. Proceeds from Youth Charity Jam benefit the Gary S. Wilmer/RAMI Music Scholarship Fund which provides funds for both the Youth Charity Jam Scholarship and the RAMI Music Scholarship. Under RAMI’s capable direction, Youth Charity Jam will provide opportunities for teen bands and dollars for scholarships for years to come.
Application Instructions:
To apply for this scholarship, you must complete an online application and submit a packet of additional materials in hard copy. Both of these components MUST be RECEIVED by the March 1st deadline.
The scholarship packet requires your school counselor, registrar or principal to verify your academic information so be sure to allow sufficient time to submit the application. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted.
Application Downloads for Hard Copy Packet:
To download the Application Checklist, click on the link below. Be sure that you access this checklist from the link on this webpage. Although many checklists are the same or similar, they are not all identical. Failure to use the appropriate checklist may lead to disqualification of your application due to insufficient data. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid submitting an incomplete application.
To download the Academic Verification Form, click on the link below.
To download the recommendation form, click on the link below. Two completed recommendation forms are required to apply.
Links to Online Applications:
To begin a new online application, click on the link below and follow the instructions listed on the form.
To finish a saved application, click the link below.
If you have any questions, contact James Patterson at 962-2110 ext. 11 or e-mail.