Cindy Mellen Stier Memorial Fund

Description of Award

The Cindy Mellen Stier Memorial Scholarship is an annual one-time award given to a graduating high school senior intent on entering the field of education. One award will be given each in the Greenville County School System (South Carolina) and the Brick Township School System (New Jersey). The award is given with the hope that it may, in some way, help to flame the passion for education and learning that the late Cindy Mellen Stier so genuinely shared with those around her.

Who Was Cindy Mellen Stier?

Cindy Mellen Stier was a mom, a wife and perhaps most of all, an educator. She was devoted to helping others learn and better themselves. Cindy passed away in December of 2012 after a valiant battle with cancer. She was only 51 and to the end maintained, “I don’t feel like I’m finished on this earth, there is something more for me to do!”

Cindy was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1961. She grew up and spent most of her early adult years in Brick Township, New Jersey. After graduating with honors from Brick Township High School in 1980 and, as a single mother, working full-time, she received her undergraduate degree in Education in 1984 from Georgian Court University. She married Donald Stier in 1986 and started her tenure in the Brick Township School System that same year. In 1989, her second son was born. It was in these early years, that her dedication to children and learning grew into the passion for which she was most recognized.

Cindy moved with her family to Georgia in 2000 and started working for Forsyth County Schools in Cumming. It was at this time that she first enrolled in graduate level courses at Kennesaw State University. In 2003, the family moved again, this time to Greenville, South Carolina. There, she went to work as a teacher for Greenville County Schools. Cindy earned a Master’s Degree in Divergent Learning in 2005 from Columbia College and moved into an Instructional Coach position at Bethel Elementary School. Her passion for learning drove her to continue her own education and, at the time of her passing, she was just a few credits shy of her Ed.S. degree.

 

Requirements to Apply

  • Applicant must be a high school senior, including home-schooled students.\r\n2. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale through the last semester of their high school senior year.
  • Applicant must have a minimum score of 1600 out of a possible 2400 on the SAT or 24 composite on the ACT.
  • Applicant must attend an accredited four-year college or university on a full-time basis.

 

The Award

The amount of the one-time scholarship will be $1000. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled as full-time students for the 20XX-20XX academic year. Enrollment will be verified after the winners are selected, and all scholarship payments will be made directly to the student to be used towards tuition and education-related expenses. Checks will not be issued without a copy of the recipient”s transcript with grades and a cumulative GPA posted through the last semester of high school. All correspondence must contain the student”s name, address and social security number.

Where May I Attend?

Recipients may attend an accredited, public or private, four-year college or university. The recipient”s school of choice must be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The institution must be an educational organization that normally maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and normally has a regularly enrolled body of pupils or students in attendance at the place where its educational activities are regularly carried on. To the extent the institution is involved in the selection of the recipients (if at all), such involvement must comply with the Fund”s policy of awarding scholarships on an objective and non-discriminatory basis as well as the Fund”s Conflict of Interest Policy.

How Are Winners Selected?

Selection Committee will consider the respective academic history, educational goals, and career ambitions of each applicant.

When Can I Apply?

Applications may be submitted after completion of the fall semester of applicants high school senior year. Applications must be postmarked by February 15th (year of graduation) to be accepted for consideration.

How Will I Be Notified?

All complete applicants will be notified of the decisions of the committee by telephone.

Fund Administrator

  • Donald C. Stier

Donations

CHARITYSMITH accepts donations in a variety of ways which include online, by mail, and phone.

Online:

CharitySmith accepts donations in two ways:

By Mail:
Cindy Mellen Stier Memorial Fund
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane
Truckee, CA 96161

Online:
Use credit card by clicking the link below:

The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer. For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.

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