BCA Scholarship Applications Closed

The (BCA) announced it is no longer accepting applications for its scholarship, which awards $1,000 to the graduating senior who best excels in their performance of civic duties at its April meeting last Tuesday night.

BCA President Bob Draffin said the winner will be picked sometime in mid May, but will be announced at Bayport-Blue Point High School's annual awards ceremony in June before graduation.

The BCA began giving out scholarships in 2004 to award students who participate in community service and continually perform their civic duties, while also assisting students with sky-rocketing tuition costs.

“I get great satisfaction out of doing it,” Draffin said. “It’s one of the most pleasurable things I get to do as the president of the BCA. It’s nice to see kids at that age that do get the importance of giving back to their community.”

Draffin said although $1,000 isn’t that much toward the immense cost of tuition, every bit helps. “We haven’t had anybody turn the check back in yet,” Draffin joked. “So we must be doing something good.”

With the help of the high school guidance office, applications are distributed to students and require a written essay. Each applicant must discuss the importance of upholding civic duties and detail how he or she has done so in their own community.

“Every year, we are actually very impressed with how many people do take pride in giving back to their community,” Draffin said. “And you see how busy these kids really are.”

Draffin said the essay is what really determines who wins the scholarship. He said the essay gives more of an insight into each person.

“Maybe it’s because I’m old school, but writing says a lot about a person,” Draffin said. “To me, reading those essays is a very heart-warming experience.”

Amy Sinensky, winner of the 2006 BCA scholarship, said a bunch of factors contributed to her win.

Sinensky said she participated in a heap of community service during high school, ranging from charity gift wrapping around the holidays and working with the Salvation Army to assisting with the summer youth field hockey and lacrosse programs. She also spent time planning and executing events with the church, such as working in the food pantry and selling Christmas trees.

“Winning the Bayport Civic Association award was very heart-warming,” Sinensky said. “To me, it helped reinforce the idea that action within in a community really does help build camaraderie and that small gestures do go a long way.”

Find out who will win the BCA scholarship on June 6 at 7 p.m. during the annual awards ceremony at .