Fide et Fortitudine (FEF) Merit Scholar Program

General Description

The Fide et Fortitudine Merit Scholar Program is designed to challenge, direct, and enrich the academic, social, and Faith-filled components of a student’s high school years. It sets a high level of expectation for student participation in academics, community service, parish work, and extra- and co curricular activities.

The focus of the Fide et Fortitudine Merit Scholar Program is to actively involve students in the Mater Dei community by ensuring quality academic performance as well as meaningful participation in   student-selected areas of interest.

A major component of the program is active participation within the Mater Dei community.  This participation is manifested in areas such as, but not limited to, peer mentoring, student council, clubs, and athletics.  However, it also includes active participation in areas outside the curriculum such as Christian service, volunteer work, and parish involvement.

Beside the expectation of involvement within the Mater Dei community, all students will be expected to do meaningful work outside the school community.  Some examples may include, Boys/Girls Scouts of America, Habitat for Humanity, local parish work, and Big Brother Big Sister.

The areas of participation will be student-centered and student-selected.   The planning and discovery of these opportunities will come from both the student and his/her mentor.

Benefits

• Graduate with distinction in class
• 4 year participants will receive a special diploma upon graduation
•  1-3 year participants will receive special recognition
• Strengthen transcript
• Will augment a student’s transcript for college application
• Possible tuition Incentive commensurate to level of participation
• Focus
• The program rigor keeps students on track for successfully maintaining positive academic performance and student participation standards

Eligibility / Admission

Application Procedure
I. Student must be admitted to and enrolled in Mater Dei Prep in order to apply to the program. Applications are available on the Mater Dei Prep website under the “Admissions” tab.

II. Completed Fide et Fortitudine Merit Scholar Applications and documents need to be submitted to Mrs. Sharon Shaw in the Admission Office.

III. Applications are reviewed on a “rolling admission” basis
a. The deadline for all applications for the 2013-2014 school year is March 27, 2013
b. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed until all corresponding documents are submitted

IV. The acceptance process into the Merit Scholar Program is three phases:
a. Application review by the program committee
b. Selected candidates by the committee will be invited to Mater Dei Prep for an interview.
Students who are not selected for the program will be notified by the committee.
c. Students selected from the first interview will be invited to participate in a second interview with administration and members of the faculty. Students should be prepared to discuss his/her application essays, achievements, leadership skills and expectations of the program.

V. Students who are accepted into the Fide et Fortitudine Merit Scholar Program will receive an acceptance letter and a “save-the-date” for the programs orientation meeting.
 

Example of Benchmark Criteria

Minimum Active Participation in:

Click Here for the Application Form

• Monsignor Bulman Scholars are eligible to apply to the Merit Scholar Program but are not eligible for the tuition incentive.