Steiner, who teaches computer science at EWU, cultivates resources and industry connections to help students. He’s organized cyber camps and regional cybersecurity competitions, mentored students and more.
In his new book, A Nation at Thought: Restoring Wisdom in America’s Schools, Steiner questions what type of education the country needs and what it could do to improve its practice. He’ll be discussing this during a free breakfast and lecture hosted by Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM).
The Network Behind the Scholarship
To ensure that your scholarship program is sustainable, you need to build a strong network of partners and supporters. This will help you promote your scholarship, find qualified candidates, and deliver an exceptional experience for both applicants and recipients. Here are some tips to get started:
Identify potential funders and create partnerships that will benefit both parties. Partnering with companies, colleges, and non-profits will give you a wider reach and increase your visibility. This can lead to more applications, more awareness, and increased community support.
Incorporate mentorship into your scholarship program to foster personal and professional growth. This can be done by connecting recipients with industry professionals or offering networking opportunities. It can also be done by providing career development resources, such as access to internships and co-ops. Finally, you can offer ongoing financial support through renewable scholarships or additional grants to offset academic barriers.
The Steiner Family Scholarship is open to students who have a passion for helping others and a desire to make positive change in their communities. The winner will receive $10,000 towards tuition at their chosen institution, as well as career development resources and mentorship from the Foundation’s executive team.
Brandon Steiner is the founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing and Memorabilia, a company that provides sports fans with an array of memorabilia and fan experiences. His work has spanned more than 30 years and includes partnerships with MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA teams as well as universities including Alabama, Notre Dame and Syracuse. In addition to his business ventures, Steiner is an avid volunteer. He sits on the board of Family Services of Westchester, a local charity that helps strengthen families and children, as well as Camp Sussex, a nonprofit summer camp.
The Sponsor and its affiliated companies (the “Released Parties”) are not responsible for injury or damage to entrants’ computers and/or wireless devices caused by participation in the Scholarship, downloading any materials associated with the Scholarship, or from use of the website. The Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Scholarship.
The Steiner Family
The Steiner Family Scholarship is the latest addition to a portfolio of scholarships that are awarded annually. The scholarship is available to children of AmeriPride Services employees and is administered by Scholarship America, the nation’s largest administrator of corporate and foundation-sponsored scholarship programs.
The family’s connection to the school is deep. They have two children currently enrolled at APHS and are both alumni of the school. The scholarship is a way for the family to pay it forward and support the next generation of students who will carry on the legacy of the school.
This particular scholarship is intended to help with the high cost of tuition for the most qualified applicants. Scholarships will be awarded to the most deserving high school seniors, with a preference for those who plan on attending college or trade schools that are accredited and offer a curriculum aligned with the pedagogy of Rudolf Steiner education.
Evgeniia (Jenny) Kosatykh, the 2024 recipient of the Steiner Family Scholarship, is a perfect example of the type of student for whom this scholarship is designed. Jenny was born and raised in war-torn Ukraine, and immigrated to Virginia Beach with her family to escape the conflict. Her story is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.
Hilary and Nick Steiner are passionate about supporting the next generation of students to pursue a liberal arts education, and they have created a $1,500 award in honor of their daughter’s memory. The scholarship will be given to a student planning to study abroad with an emphasis on Asia. Hilary and Nick have both lived in Asia post-university, so they have a unique perspective on the value of learning languages to open up new opportunities for people around the globe.
Hallie and Fiona Steiner have been long-time supporters of the Rudolf Steiner School, both personally and financially. Their commitment to the school is reflected in the fact that they both serve on the Steiner Electric board of directors, and their personal funds have been used to establish The Steiner Family Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of Okanogan County. This scholarship is designed to assist graduating seniors from Okanogan County who are pursuing further education in an accredited trade or technical program.
The Ruby Falls Community
The story of Ruby Falls — America’s deepest cave and underground waterfall — is a tale of wanderlust, love and determination. For more than 95 years, people of all ages have shared their own personal connections to this natural wonder in the heart of Chattanooga. From honeymoon bliss to retirement adventures, family vacations and solo road trips, countless stories are woven into the fabric of this unique natural attraction.
Today, a new generation of visitors is discovering the thrill of the outdoors and the beauty of Lookout Mountain while learning about this historic site’s rich past. For many, Ruby Falls is the place where memories are made and treasured for a lifetime.
In addition to their work at the park, Ruby Falls employees are committed to educating and serving their communities. As part of the scholarship program, they participate in community outreach and service activities, and contribute to local fundraisers to support education and the arts. For instance, this year, several employees volunteered their time at the annual Holiday on the Mountain event.
As a result of the company’s commitment to supporting education, Ruby Falls employees are eligible for scholarships to attend colleges and universities. The scholarships are renewable for up to $5,000 (USD) per academic year, and are available to high school seniors and students in their final year of upper-secondary school who plan to enroll as full-time undergraduates at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, vocational-technical or CEGEP for the entire upcoming academic year.
Scholars are invited to a retreat during the summer, where they meet with other scholars and Foundation staff to discuss their research, provide feedback on one another’s projects and share best practices for conducting rigorous, ethical social science research. They also participate in workshops that focus on professional development, reducing inequality, and the challenges of working with diverse participants.
Steiner goes “above and beyond” to cultivate resources for EWU cybersecurity students, says Tappan, including setting up hacking labs, organizing cyber camps, regional competitions and mentoring activities. He has even gone as far as to help colleagues at other institutions establish their own programs, Tappan adds.
The Ruby Falls Employees
The scholarship program gives children of employees at Ruby Falls the opportunity to pursue their educations. The program is administered by Scholarship America, which has a long record of success in helping students achieve their educational goals. It offers a wide range of scholarships for different types of higher education. It also has specific requirements for each scholarship, including a minimum number of community service hours. In order to qualify, the service hours must be rendered for a non-profit organization or government agency. Service done for for-profit entities, family and friends, and training courses do not count towards the minimum requirement.
The Ruby Falls Employee Scholarship is open to students in the United States and Canada who are dependents of employees at the company’s various locations. Applicants are evaluated and selected by Scholarship America, which is one of the nation’s largest administrators of corporate scholarship programs. Applicants are evaluated on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, leadership, service to the community, and financial need.
Levi Kirk is the recipient of this year’s Steiner Family Scholarship, which was awarded in March 2024. He is a first-year student at Western Governors University, where he is pursuing a chemistry degree. He also works at Ruby Falls, leading groups of guests on their cave adventure. Kirk previously volunteered as a candy striper at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
In her role as the involvement consultant for student engagement, McRae is able to provide transformational experiences for students. She leads students in the pursuit of their academic and career goals and helps them develop the necessary skills to succeed in the workforce. She has worked with several student organizations, and she has participated in leadership development workshops at USF.
Steiner is credited with introducing EWU’s cybersecurity degrees, which were recently certified as Centers of Academic Excellence by the NSA. He has also been instrumental in creating opportunities for students to learn and grow through tutoring, mentoring, clubs, competitions, and other resources. He goes “above and beyond to cultivate the right resources for our students,” according to his colleagues.