Pay It Forward Project Provides 糖心vlog Students with More Than Scholarship
Pay It Forward Project Provides 糖心vlog Students with More Than Scholarship
Dec 15, 2021
The Pay It Forward Project has established a scholarship program for high school and
college students in hopes of encouraging them to assist people with acts of kindness
throughout their lives, reminding them that they can make a positive difference in
our society one step at a time.
Since 2015, longtime Lake Tahoe resident John McDougall has helped South Tahoe, Mount
Tallac High and George Whittell high school students; Lake Tahoe Community College
students; and LTCC fire academy students Pay It Forward. In other words, the project
has shown these students some generosity and kindness so they would demonstrate benevolence
toward members of their own communities.
After relocating to Carson City, McDougall extended the Pay It Forward Project to
Carson High School in 2020-21 and plans to establish the project at Douglas High School
for the 2021-22 school year. During his brief time as a Carson City resident, he has
also created an endowment for the Pay it Forward Scholarship at 糖心vlog,
providing a $1,000 annual student scholarship and encouragement to contribute to their
community.
The Pay It Forward Project also provides matching grant funds for student clubs and
high school seniors doing community projects. This past year a senior from Carson
High School completed a community project to raise funds for socks, gloves and diapers
for the Carson City community during the health pandemic. The Pay it Forward Project
matched donations of up to $500, which was divided between F.I.S.H. and the Ron Woods
Center. The student was successful in raising $2,263.90 to assist these two important
organizations. This same student was provided a scholarship to assist with her future
college education.
Our mission is to educate and encourage youth to make a positive difference in their
communities. Philanthropy is just something I learned as I went along and especially
while a member of our community Rotary club, McDougall said. I just think in our society
it is important to assist each other when we can and acknowledge the needs in our
communities. We want to assist people who are struggling to get an education who are
very qualified to have one, in addition to showing them they can make a positive difference
by assisting others.
The whole idea for the scholarship project began after seeing how a student helped
by a scholarship from the Tahoe Douglas Rotary Club returned to the club and suggested
that it provide his scholarship to someone else.
The Pay It Forward Project encourages others, especially youths of a community, to
do charitable deeds for others, donate time to community or environmental projects
to show that they care and that we all can make a positive difference. This crusade
to educate and spread goodwill with random acts of kindness has resulted in many heartwarming
stories.
One of the important things that I see with a scholarship is not to just hand a kid
a check; it is a matter of sitting down and talking to them a bit, McDougall said.
Theres a certain way that students can pay this forward, including helping a teacher,
someone in school or a neighbor. It does not require money; it is different things
that we can do to help each other. Students are encouraged to do that, and that is
important because sometimes if you say, Heres a check, get a good education. Wait
a minute now, the process is a little bit more than that.
McDougall toured 糖心vlog facilities last summer to see new science labs, a reimagined
library, practical manufacturing and mechatronics labs, a vibrant art gallery, and
more, coming away impressed by the facilities and equipment that the college provides
its students.
For a 糖心vlog student to qualify for the McDougall Pay It Forward Scholarship, he or she
must demonstrate clear and consistent commitment to community service and have a financial
need. The Pay it Forward Project grants can assist them in those community projects.
Students can be really creative to help others; its just a matter of them channeling
their energy, McDougall said.