The Oscar Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund

BACKGROUND

The Gamber and Community Fire Company in cooperation with the Oscar Brothers family will once again be offering a four year college scholarship to a student who lives within the primary area serviced by the fire company. This scholarship will officially be known as the Oscar Brothers Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Brothers family has been in residence in the Gamber community for over 200 years and Oscar's family has resided near the firehouse since 1944. Oscar was always very active in community affairs. He was one of the driving forces in getting the fire company established in the early 1960's and served as the fire company's first President 50 years ago..

Gamber has always been a close knit, family oriented, community and that was one of the driving reasons for establishing this scholarship. To this day, Oscar's widow, Virginia Brothers, still logs as many volunteer hours as just about anyone in the community.

Oscar and Virginia were fortunate to have four sons. Though they are all grown adults, spread up and down the east coast, living their individual lives, they will always share several very strong bonds. They share strong family values, were raised to be responsible adults, and they respect other people. Maybe most important of all, the fabric of small town America is tightly woven into their values and personalities that can never be denied.

As is the case with most communities, the day will come when The Brothers family will disappear from the fabric of the Gamber community. This scholarship is our family's way of giving back to the Gamber community with a program that will live forever and insure that other young people growing up in the area have the opportunity to better themselves and maybe someday reward the community in a similar way.

We truly hope that proper funding of the scholarship program will ensure it lives in perpetuity and in the long term can provide other value to the community as well.

SCHOLARSHIP STRUCTURE AND GUIDELINES

4 Year Scholarship - Up to $5,000.00 1st year; Up to $2,500.00 2nd through 4th year; $12,500.00 Maximum payout per student over 4 years (books & tuition only).

*****Eligibility: Students applying must have their primary residence within the "first due" geographical area serviced by the Gamber and Community Fire Company

Disbursement of funds will be 50% at the beginning of each semester once grade transcripts have been received and students have maintained eligibility requirements.

Financial need will be a primary consideration for recipients. Applicants must provide the most recent two years of total family income plus the number of children in the family.

Students from Westminster High, Liberty High, South Carroll High, Century High, Winters Mill High as well as any student from any other private or home school are eligible as long as their primary residence is within the "first-due" geographical area serviced by the Gamber and Community Fire Co.

A minimum course load of 12 credit hours is required. Students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in order to remain eligible for funding each semester for the entire 4 years. Students attending 2 year programs are also eligible and must maintain a 2.5 grade point average as well to remain eligible.

Student must perform 40 hours of community service during each year of eligibility within the Gamber & Community Fire Company service area and provide verification of same.

Students who are members of the Oscar Brothers family are not eligible to receive this scholarship.

Scholarship funding will be revoked for students failing to complete course work each semester.

If for some reason, the student needs to take a semester off, we will evaluate those special circumstances and determine if scholarship can resume once they go back to school or will the scholarship be permanently withdrawn.

Maintaining honors can earn recipients an extra $500 per semester when submitted with the appropriate documentation. Applications must be received no later than April 15, 2015 in order to be eligible to receive consideration for scholarship funding annually.

The Oscar Brothers family and the Gamber & Community Fire Company assume responsibility for all costs and expenses of the scholarship and for the management and operation of the program. The family and the fire company reserve the right to accept or decline any or all applicants, and selection and decisions are final.

Applications can be obtained from the fire company by addressing a letter or email and requesting an application as follows:

Scholarship Committee
Gamber & Community Fire Co.
3838 Niner Road
Finksburg, MD 21048

OR VIA EMAIL

cmyers@gambervfd.org

Be sure to include the student's name, address, telephone, and email address.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS - APRIL 15, 2015