The Summit Foundation, in partnership with the Summit School District, made the investment to donate a free online scholarship application for local high school seniors in early December and received more than 1,600 applications by the Jan. 24 deadline.

The custom online application is used by more than 70 other local scholarship providers and was made possible through a partnership with software company FluidReview. In the past, students and families were involved in a very labor intensive process, completing a paper application and making multiple copies for each individual scholarship, with families spending as much as $200 on printing.

“We knew we were going to put out scholarship application online, so we thought, ‘Why not do it for everyone?’” Jeanne Bistranin, executive director of The Summit Foundation, said in a news release. “This is a way we can help the students, parents and many scholarship providers to make things easier and more efficient.”

The online application makes it easier on scholarship suppliers and reviewers as well, each now able to login and review applications. If the selection process involves a team of reviewers, they are now able to communicate with each other electronically, sharing comments during the process prior to in-person interviews or selection meetings.

“Two years ago, we endured the scholarship application process with our older daughter,” Susan Rose, parent of a current Summit High School senior, said in the release. “The process was stressful, expensive, repetitive and time-consuming. The process is streamlined, environmentally conscious and timesaving.”

Nearly 100 students from Summit High, Snowy Peaks High and Summit County home-school options completed the community-wide online application for scholarships from 72 community organizations. The Summit High School scholarship presentation will be held the evening of Monday, April 4, where more than $300,000 in scholarships will be awarded.

School District Master Plan Meeting

The Summit School District invites parents, students, staff and members of the community to a Master Plan meeting at in the Summit Middle School cafeteria (150 School Rd. in Frisco) on Thursday, Feb. 16, from 5:30-7 p.m.

The district is hosting the meeting to ask for input on the future needs and uses of school buildings, facilities and land. The meeting will include a presentation from WOLD Architects and Engineers on the current state of the district’s facilities, and attendees can be a part of helping shape the future of Summit County’s schools.

Those with questions may contact Central Administration, at (970) 368-1000. A Spanish-language interpretation of the meeting will also be available.

Peak Model UN remains undefeated

The Peak School’s Model UN Team, which launched in September 2015, was once again voted Best Delegation following the third conference it has attended.

Competing against teams from 15 other high schools, Kira Benson, 17, and Arel Svenson, 16, took top prize at a conference in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The two were backed by research efforts from Peak’s Upper School Model UN elective taught by Jeffrey Beavers, where he coaches students in research, writing, speaking and negotiation.

The Model UN prepares future leaders by introducing young people to the world’s most significant problems in peace and security, human rights and sustainable development, with the intention of locating global solutions. Not offered at any school in Summit County, the program gives students a chance to learn about different countries, foreign policies and, most importantly, how to think critically about issues from multiple perspectives.

Student earns spot in honor choir

Summit High School freshman Abi Whinston was selected to participate in the women’s honor choir at the Western Slope Choral Festival.

Whinston, a member of the high school’s top choir, Summit Singers, is one of many who auditioned for a spot and she was specifically chosen to sing Alto 1. Approximately 250 singers are chosen from the state’s 40 high schools for two honor choirs, women’s and mixed.

The festival takes place at the campus of Western State Colorado University each spring. The dates for this year’s event are Thursday, March 3 through Saturday, March 5.