What is Strive?

A scholarship and mentoring program to help students improve grades,

attendance, and school performance.

Who sponsors and supports STRIVE?

Rotary Club of Maple Grove Volunteers from Rotary and the community.

Maple Grove Senior High School Osseo Senior High School North Hennepin Community College Hennepin Technical College Anoka-Ramsey Community College Dunwoody Technical School

Who is Strive for?

Students coming in to their senior year who have GPA’s in the lower 1/3 of their class.

Students who have a desire to be more successful in school.

Students who want to attend post-secondary education, and may need financial assistance to do so.

Why is Strive important?

Because we know these students have greater potential than they have shown in the past. Most are as intelligent as those on the A honor roll, but have simply “lost their way”.

Because we believe that we can provide these students with new ways of doing things and a stimulation to try them.

“If you keep on doing what you have always done, you will keep on getting what you have always got!”

Strive Works!

Statistically, 75-80% of those who made the commitment to Strive criteria improved their GPA. These students had a 91% attendance average. They knew that the school and the community were pulling for them through the efforts of the volunteers at the Strive “Power Meetings”.

History of Strive

Strive was started in 1991 by a Rotarian, Don Mooney, in White Bear Lake.

Since then, hundreds of Rotary Clubs throughout the United States have started Strive in their local schools.

Maple Grove Rotary began Strive at Osseo in 1995, and several years later expanded to include Maple Grove.

The mechanics of Strive

Prior to the start of school in the fall, letters of invitation to an orientation meeting are sent to students that qualify for Strive.

Students who attend the orientation are asked to make a commitment to join the program.

A schedule of “Power Meeting” dates, times, and rooms is developed and distributed to the volunteers and students.

The mechanics, continued

A record is made of each student’s cumulative GPA to get a starting point to gauge change.

Volunteers meet with the students 16 – 17 times throughout the year, at the school, during class times.

A banquet is held prior to the end of the school year to celebrate the students participation in Strive. Each student is allowed two guests.

The mechanics, continued

Pictures are taken of the students and volunteers at each school to be used for a news article in the Osseo/Maple Grove Press.

After the school year ends and grades are computed, an awards presentation is done at a regularly scheduled Rotary meeting.

The Strive Commitment

Accept Strive by signing the commitment form.

Attend classes regularly. Report to classes on time. Bring appropriate learning materials to class. Participate in the learning activities. Treat others with respect and dignity. Obey reasonable requests of the teachers.

What happens at Strive “Power Meetings”?

The class size can vary from 15 to 45 students at each school for any given year.

There is a lead facilitator at each school. We try to have a minimum 1-to-5 ratio of

volunteers to students to facilitate small group discussions.

After the short presentation of the topic of the day, we break up into small groups as often as possible to help get all students involved.

“Power Meeting” Topics Introductions and expectations. Improvement requires change: Attitude 1. College check-in, grants and scholarships. Goal setting. Time management. Career Day. Making good choices, decision making. Improvement requires change: Habits. Building self confidence, overcoming obstacles. Improvement requires change: Attitude 2. Friend raising, networking. Improvement requires change: Organization. Stress reduction. Ethics and morality. Positive & negative influences Setting priorities – family, friends & work.

Strive Scholarships

Each scholarship awarded is funded by Maple Grove Rotary and matched by the Foundation of the College of choice.

To date the partners with Maple Grove Rotary are North Hennepin Community College, Hennepin Technical College, and Anoka/Ramsey Community College. Dunwoody, More will be added in time.

Strive Scholarship Awards(At Each School)

Most Improved GPA $750 Scholarship (when matched $1500).

Highest Senior GPA $750 Scholarship (when matched $1500).

3 scholarships for Participation $500 Scholarship (when matched $1000).

Celebration Banquet

For all Strive students (and two guests, preferably their parents or guardians).

Fancy end of year awards luncheon. Recognition of students with presentations by:

Rotarians. Past and present Strive students. School representatives. Partnering College representatives.

Group pictures of each Strive Program.

Osseo Senior High Strive, 2004

2008 Maple Grove STRIVE students

Testimonials from Students

“It really gave me the encouragement to do my best and not slack off so much.”

“I like that they taught me to organize my time and I do now.”

“Gets you motivated to do better, helps you start out somewhere.”

Testimonials from Students

“You get ideas of how to improve grades and habits.”

“I like the free food.” “I think it helps kids realize

you don’t need to be really smart to succeed. You just need to apply yourself.”

“Helped me to set goals and plan.”

Strive is a Beautiful Thing!