Recently, the Optimist Club of Washington awarded several scholarships to a group of Beaufort County students. Though scholarships are normally given to students based solely on academic merit, the scholarships given by the club were based on far more than just grades.

The Optimist Club scholarships were given, mainly, for community service and outreach. But among the criteria included a grade-point-average of at least 2.5, accomplishments and extra curricular activities. Each recipient must also have participated in a sport at some point in his or her life. Each applicant of the scholarships were reviewed and judged by people that are not local and are not acquainted with the applicants.

The importance of these scholarships is obvious — to help county students on their path to a brighter future. However, the criteria for these scholarships promote something much deeper.

Scholarships designed to immerse local students in community activities not only promotes a spirit of volunteerism, but it also creates bonds between them and their community that instill a passion for things going on in their own community and the people that live there.

Most of these students already have that passion and volunteer on a regular basis anyway. But the scholarships offered through the Optimist Club of Washington fill the gap for the students, who may be exploring opportunities for aide in paying for their college education. That demographic of students, those who haven’t engaged in much or any community service, may be researching criteria for various scholarships and come across the offerings of the Optimist Club and, at that point, engage in community service or outreach, also a very valuable addition to any resume.

Also, with a qualification for the scholarships being participation in a sport at some point in an applicant’s life, the scholarships promote a sense of being well rounded.

And from the Optimist Club’s standpoint, not only are they helping local students succeed and meet their goals, but through its scholarship program, it is planting seeds with students who may potentially come back to the area and continue their volunteerism, outreach and service to the community in which they were raised and love. These students could potentially come back to the area after college and become important, productive components of Beaufort County.