Overseas Experience

Klickitat County Young Leaders Association

OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE APPLICATION

                  Welcome to the Overseas Experience Page!

    The White Salmon Lions Club is proud to introduce the Overseas Experience Award. The award for this year is being funded through a private donation.  Award applications may be submitted starting July 15th at 5:00 PM and will close September 10th, 2009 at 5:00 PM. The winner will be announced during the month of September. For any questions scroll to the bottom of the page for the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or send an Email to; Overseasexp@kcyla.com

    Applicants are required to fill out and submit the form on this page. We reccomend for the Essay at the bottom that you write it in a word document so that you can be sure that it does not exceed 5 pages then copy and paste it into the text area below.
    The application is currently open only to graduates of Trout Lake, Glenwood, and Columbia High.



Description of Travel Award:

This travel opportunity is to a U.S. State Department-approved foreign country of your choice, outside the continent of North America. It will be awarded to a graduate from Trout Lake, Glenwood, or Columbia High School. The recipient must be 18 years old and less than 25, and have a high school GPA between 2.8 and 4.0. Graduating GPA will not be taken into consideration by the awards committee.

Award:

Round-trip economy class air ticket to a gateway city in the country of choice (with travel insurance)
$1,000 US on prepaid credit cards
$100 US passport application fee paid, if needed
Up to $150 foreign country visa cost paid to one country, if needed
Letter of Introduction from the White Salmon Lions Club

Criteria:

Applicant must answer all questions in the application.
Applicant must have or be able to qualify for a US passport.
Finalists may be asked to provide high school and any applicable college transcripts.
Award recipient will provide proof of health insurance coverage while overseas, and provide a liability waiver agreement to White Salmon Lions and Lions International, as Lions Club assumes no responsibility for the recipient while abroad.
Award recipient should develop a list of Lions Club contacts in the country to be visited, for contact in case of an emergency.
Award recipient will research Lions Club contacts in country of travel to consider service opportunities during travel.
Upon return from travel, award recipient will make an oral presentation, including photos, to the White Salmon Lions Club in a public forum.
Applicant may be asked to participate in a personal interview.
The Overseas Experience is a one-time award per recipient.
Application deadline is September 10, with award to be announced in October.
Travel must commence within 9 months from date of award.
Award travel may not be combined with any other purpose (mission, business, etc.).

Overseas Experience Application Form

Please fill the entire form out to the best of your knowledge. If you have any further information you would like to provide the committee please e-mail overseasexp@kcyla.com

Everything with a red star is required and you will not be able to submit the form without filling it out.

Name: *
Age- in years: *
Permanent Address: *
Mailing Address:
Phone Number- ex. 123-456-7890: *
Date of Birth- ex. 07/09/1980: *
Place of Birth- City & State: *
High School Attended- Click One: *
High School GPA- ex. 3.5:
High School Graduation Date- ex. 06/05/2001: *
Post Secondary School(s) Attended- List all:
Post Secondary Dates Attended- List all:
College Graduation Date & Degree(s):
College GPA- ex. 3.5:
Are you currently a member of the local Lions Club?:
Do you currently have health insurance to cover you on your trip?:
Do you currently have a Passport?:
Have you been convicted of a felony or released from prision within the last seven years?:
Current or Previous Employer: *
Employer Reference Phone Number:
Employment Address:
Position Held: *
From (Mo/Yr): *
To (Mo/Yr): *
Duties & Responsibilities:
Tell us about yourself and why this travel experience would be good for you- Please limit answers to 150 words or less for the following short answer questions: *
To what overseas country would you like to travel, and why?: *
When would you like to travel?: *
Will you try to visit any other countries while on this trip?: *
Do you have relatives or other contacts in your chosen country?: *
Does your chosen country require you to have a visa?: *
List any scholarships and awards from high school, with dollar values, you have recieved: *
Have you previously traveled internationally? if yes, where, when, and for how long?: *
How do you intend to travel in your chosen country, and what type of lodging will you use?: *
How do your parents/guardians feel about you applying for this experience?: *
How will you contact people back home while you are away?: *
When, and for how long, would you expect to be traveling?: *
How will you maximize or stretch your $1,000 cash award?: *
Will the country you have chosen allow you to supplement your travel with local work?: *
How would you initiate contact and interact with local citizens?: *
How would you initiate contact and interact with foreign youth?: *
How do you feel this travel experience will help you later in life?: *
What do you expect to learn during this travel experience?: *
What will you be doing and where will you be living 5 years from now?: *
ESSAY-: Please do not exceed 5 pages in length. It is advised to first type the essay in a word document and copy/paste it into this text area when you are ready to submit. In your essay please consider the following points to touch on. Tell us about yourself, and your hopes and dreams. Why are you interested in “the Overseas Experience?” What would be the first thing you will do when you arrive in the country of your choice? What is one thing you feel you must do to make the trip a success? What do you expect to learn from the local people you encounter on this trip? How do you think the “Overseas Experience” will help you in later life? What are your career plans? How will the Overseas Experience help you with those plans? What else would you like the selection committee to know about you? *
Please make sure to check the box to the right before you submit your application.	I have read and hereby accept the criteria and regulations outlined in this application. I also certify that this application is completed to the best of my knowledge and, if selected as the award recipient, I will abide by the conditions outlined.

For a hard copy of the application to download- CLICK HERE

Donate to the Overseas Experience Award- This is a tax deductible donation to the White Salmon Lions Club. You can click the donate button below or send a check to;

White Salmon Lions Club

PO Box 1999

White Salmon, WA 98672

FAQs    Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION- I am still in college. Am I eligible?

ANSWER- Yes. You are eligible to apply if you are between the ages 18 and 25, regardless of whether or not you are pursuing higher education. You must be prepared to travel, so long as travel commences within nine months from the date of the award.

QUESTION- In the criteria section, it says that I need to make a list of the Lions Clubs and contacts in the country to which I would like to travel. Do I need to make this list now, or can I make it after I receive the award?

ANSWER- No, you do not have to make these lists during the application process. If you receive the award, you will be required to research this information.

QUESTION- I received an internship for next summer in a foreign country. May I use this award to pay for the costs to attend the internship?

ANSWER- No. This award cannot be combined with a job, mission, family visit, educational pursuits, or any other purpose. If you would like to find work or volunteer opportunities while abroad, to extend the time you spend in your chosen country, to stretch your budget, that is great.

QUESTION- I would like to ride the rails of Europe for an extended period of time, .ie., six months, for example. Can I use this award to travel all over Europe?

ANSWER- Yes! You can use the award to travel in any combination of countries you wish. If you can stretch the $1000 dollar monetary award for additional time abroad, that would be great.

QUESTION- May I use my own money to supplement the award money?

ANSWER- Of course you can, If you, your family, or other sponsors would like to help you extend your trip, that is great. If you will be using your own or other money, please put that in the application above in the question titled, "How will you maximize or stretch your $1000 award?" You might even split the monetary award with a friend, share expenses, and work to supplement your funds.

QUESTION- I would like to create a PowerPoint® presentation to supplement my application. I would like to talk about the countries I am hoping to see, and the trip I am planning, as well as additional stops and the detailed cultural experiences. Will this help me in the selection process?

ANSWER- The Selection Committee will review the essay you provide with you’re application. If you are a finalist in the selection process, you will be contacted and asked to provide a PowerPoint presentation (or similar hard copy presentation) for the Selection Committee.

QUESTION- It seems that the 4.0 students get all of the scholarships. I didn't have the greatest of grades in high school, and didn't go to college. Do I have any chance of receiving this award?

ANSWER- Yes. First, this is an award and not a scholarship. Second, your graduating GPA will not be taken into consideration, but is only supplied to ensure you meet the minimum requirements. Scholarships the 4.0 students received in high school will not give them an edge over your application.

QUESTION- Am I required to be a member of a Lions Club to apply for this award? If I receive the award, am I then required to join?

ANSWER- No. You will be given a Letter of Introduction from the White Salmon Lions Club, as part of the award. This will help you in making contact with Lions Clubs in foreign countries, in case of emergency or to become acquainted with local persons. If you wish to become part of the Lions International organization, that is strictly your choice.

QUESTION- The application is on the KCYLA website but says that it is sponsored by the White Salmon Lions Club. What role is the KCYLA playing in this award?

ANSWER- KCYLA is hosting the award information and application on their website, and helping to get the word out about the award.

QUESTION- The online application says that I should keep my answer to 150 words per question. That is not very much room to explain myself and what I would like to do. What advice can you give me?

ANSWER- If you do not feel you can give a full representation of yourself in the online application, use the Essay to highlight who you are and why you are an excellent candidate.

QUESTION- Can I incorporate my Personal Profile/Resume into my PowerPoint presentation to make things easier?

ANSWER- Answer the questions on the application as thoroughly as possible. If you are a finalist, and are asked to provide a PowerPoint or similar manual presentation, you should restate in the presentation who you are and your goals for using this award.

Klickitat County Young Leaders Association
P.O. Box 1573
White Salmon, WA 98672
Operations@kcyla.com

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