Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast, and today we have Stephen Moore on. He is the Director of WinShape Camps for Communities, a traveling day camp program that partners with churches to bring summer camps to kids all over the country.
They focus on forming a bond with the kids, while engaging them with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are definitely a Christian organization with strong Protestant evangelical mores.
1. Academics
When you apply for a WinShape scholarship, you’re expected to be a high-achieving student. The application process involves a personal essay that showcases your character and aspirations, as well as letters of recommendation from mentors. You’ll also be required to provide your academic transcripts (from both your high school and college), as these will be used to verify that you’ve maintained a minimum GPA throughout your education.
These academic requirements are vital to ensuring that you’re capable of successfully fulfilling the program’s mission. In addition to helping you build essential leadership skills, the program also provides mentorship opportunities that help you grow personally and professionally. Moreover, by offering workshops that address issues such as diversity and inclusion, the scholarship ensures that students from all backgrounds feel empowered to lead.
As a result, the program is a unique choice for those who want to make an impact in their communities and the world. Many past scholars have shared their transformative experiences, revealing that the scholarship has played a significant role in shaping their futures.
While the exact requirements have varied over time, the program was originally established by Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy as a way to shape young people to be winners. The foundation grew to include summer camps, a boys and girls academy, foster homes, and United States and global mission trips. Today, the WinShape Foundation focuses on a small college scholarship program housed in Berry College buildings, as well as a network of college and youth leaders, including both collegiate and youth ministry teams.
Each year, the scholarship provides $8,000 yearly – funded jointly by WinShape and Berry College. It replaced the first $8,000 of any academic scholarships that Berry offered, and required a special interview and selection process. Eligibility also originally required current Chick-fil-A employment, high achievement and community involvement in high school, and a willingness to sign a contract including Christianity-based rules. While employment is no longer a requirement, the Christian-based nature of WinShape remains stronger than ever. The program’s current contract requires weekly meeting attendance, leadership discussion group participation, and a Christian lifestyle that includes abstaining from alcohol and drugs.
2. Leadership
Leadership has many definitions, but what I think distinguishes WinShape’s scholarship program from other academic definitions is that the Cathys define it as “a process of social influence that maximizes the efforts of others toward a common goal.” This is why they include the word ‘maximizes’ in their definition; because leadership involves bringing together and enrolling people in a shared vision, they need the maximum amount of energy and commitment possible.
Those who are effective leaders can organize people to outperform teams that are not as well organized. This point of view is why the Cathys insist that it is not important for applicants to have any specific title, but rather to demonstrate their ability to inspire others to work together.
According to socioanalytic theory, humans have three basic evolutionary needs: getting along (in cooperation for social acceptance), getting ahead (through competition for status and survival) and finding meaning (through systems such as philosophy, sciences and religion). Leadership is the coordinating force that allows people to meet their master motives.
In addition to their academic scholarships, the Cathys also provide $8,000 per year for leadership training. This is a separate award from the academic scholarships, and is based on a combination of a student’s attendance at weekly meetings, participation in leadership discussion groups, community service and adherence to a fundamentalist Christian lifestyle. The leadership requirements for the scholarship have been adjusted over time, but at its core, the Cathys are looking for students who are committed to moral living and involved in community service and leadership.
3. Community Service
Community service is a way for people to use their time and skills for the benefit of others. It is a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of others and help communities thrive. However, it is important to understand the benefits and requirements of community service before getting involved.
Performing community service is a wonderful way to learn more about yourself and the needs of your local community. It can also help you to develop critical skills that are useful in many different areas of life. It can also help you to develop a strong sense of identity and connect with other members of your community.
There are countless ways to perform community service, and the options vary depending on your interests and the needs of the organization you are working with. Generally, community service opportunities are available in non-profit organizations, schools, churches, and other groups that need assistance from volunteers. Often, these volunteer opportunities are offered during unassigned periods of the school day or after school. Additionally, some opportunities are offered on the weekends or during the summer.
Many volunteers choose to work with children, the elderly, or individuals who have special needs. In these cases, it is common for volunteers to be required to undergo a background check before beginning their work. These background checks ensure the safety of those who are receiving services from these volunteers. They also protect the integrity of the organizations that host these volunteers by ensuring that all volunteers are safe and qualified to serve their clients.
While the requirements of WinShape have changed over the years, it remains a Christian-based program that has a clear set of rules for participants. Historically, the program has required Chick-fil-A employment, high academic achievement, and significant involvement in community service. The current requirements include adherence to Berry College’s student handbook, participation in weekly meetings, and the commitment to a Christian lifestyle that includes abstaining from alcohol and drugs. These requirements are meant to prepare students for life and leadership in the world. They teach students to value community, build connections, and lead from their passions, gifts, and talents.
4. Spiritual Growth
The WinShape Foundation is a charitable endeavor of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy. The foundation operates several different programs, including college scholarship, foster care, boys’ and girls’ summer camps, and a traveling day camp program for communities across the United States. The foundation also hosts family, marriage, and business retreats, offers a challenge/ropes course, and sponsors mission trips both within the United States and internationally.
The requirements for the WinShape College program are meant to cultivate students who develop disciples, create community, and launch leaders to impact every generation. To achieve this goal, the program focuses on six key experiences: living out your identity in Christ, building and sustaining a community of support relationships, making decisions and contributing to the world around you based on communal thinking, leading from gifts, passions and a love for Jesus, and developing a Biblical worldview.
Spiritual growth is the process of establishing a connection with something greater than oneself, which can be defined as faith, God, nature, or one’s higher self. It involves developing a belief system, engaging in spiritual practices, and nurturing qualities such as compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude. The Bible provides guidance, principles, and encouragement for those who wish to grow in their spirituality.
Examples of spiritual growth in daily life include practicing mindfulness to increase awareness and foster gratitude, reading and reflecting on religious or spiritual texts, setting aside time for prayer or meditation, and expressing gratitude daily. In addition, spiritual growth requires cultivating a balanced and reflective approach to these practices, ensuring that they are not merely going through the motions but are truly growing spiritually.
Spiritual growth is an important part of the WinShape scholarship program because it promotes the development of a well-rounded individual and encourages individuals to live with intention, meaning, and purpose. It helps people navigate challenging times with more resilience and patience, fostering feelings of connectedness with others and the universe at large. It also promotes a higher sense of morality and ethical standards, encouraging people to act out their spiritual beliefs in the world around them. The result is a more fulfilling and meaningful life.