Scholarship Program for the New York School Children

To paraphrase Aristotle, all people desire to know: who we are; how we know; how we should live. To Socrates, the health of the state depends on the knowledge and education of its individuals. To Thomas Jefferson, a democracy is only valid and meaningful if our citizens are educated, well-informed, and qualified to make enlightened decisions. Another word, to substantiate a democracy, to raise the health and wealth of a nation and to fulfill an individual’s happiness and his or her inborn curiosity, a good education system is the answer to all of them. If you want to get the best education for your child then check out this 2nd Grade Reading Curriculum.

However, our nation’s education system is failing us. According to April 17th, 2009 issue of Time magazine, nearly 1 in 3 public high school students in United States will not graduate. And inside the Education State Rankings of 2008-2009, State of New York’s public schools systems are ranked amongst the lowest in the United States.

In an effort to improve our community, for the past 3 years, Eta Kappa Nu has worked with Hope World Wide Tutoring in a joint aspiration to improve the most underprivileged elementary schools in New York. Our organization has contributed in 3 major ways in this fight to reverse the downward trends of our public schools.

1. Based on the latest studies done by school administrators, “third graders who still can’t read or acquire basic math skills begin a downward spiral of frustration that usually leads to an early end in their academic career.” Eta Kappa Nu strives to build a strong foundation of English and Arithmetic skills for our inner-city elementary school students before these children’s reach their critical stage of learning.

For the past 3 years, we have consistently supplied tutors almost every Saturday to these underprivileged schools. If you are interested in helping Eta Kappa Nu’s effort to make a difference in these children’s lives, please contact Eta Kappa Nu for more information.

1. On top of providing basic tutoring service for these children, Eta Kappa Nu members also serve as role-models, dedicated to scholarship, character, and benevolence. Our tutors combat the inner-city school’s culture of drugs, violence, ignorance, and apathy with the principles that are treasured by collegians: delaying of gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and striving to become more than who we are as individuals (the very essence of humanity). These children whom we tutor need more than learning the basics of reading and arithmetic.

They need to be inspired. They need to understand that they are learning the fundamental building blocks that allow them to enter into a greater universe, limitless in its mysteries and wonders. These children need to have a dream, larger than themselves and the sum of their own drives. They need to recognize that they are desperately needed as a member of a global community that does not recognize race, gender, or ethnicity — a transnational institution built since the beginning of civilization that is dedicated to the search of truth, the advancement of the current human condition, and the peaceful security of our future posterities.

1. Lastly, we are committed to give practical rewards, opportunities, and advantages to those children who are most recognized to be striving to learn and for their strong characters to standout from their hazardous environment. These inner-city children, who made the strongest improvements, despite of their family’s poor financial condition, impoverished neighborhoods, and drug and violence stricken communities, should be able to attend college with their tuition and living expenses stipend. Our core value of Eta Kappa Nu is based on that of scholastic achievement and strong character. Thus our actions should reflect those values and award those values shown in these children whom we teach.

Our outstanding scholarships and federal grants should be given to those handpicked children that have shown the desire for higher knowledge and have made the most progress in their academic growth. This is why the Eta Kappa Nu Scholarship Foundation was established, first founded by a student here named Charles Wang. Our organization and our foundation is committed to recognizing and rewarding these children of New York who have made the strongest improvements in their scholarship and character well into the future.