THE RUDY AWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM (Grades 5, 6, 7, 8)

THE RUDY AWARD PROGRAM (RAP) is designed to be used in middle schools year after year. Each grade level is assigned a different book so as the students move from grades 5 thru 8, they will read a different RAP book each year and participate in the program at a new learning level. The Rudy Foundation will supply each participating school with the program materials and selection criteria needed to implement the Rudy Award Program.

STEP 1. The School will show the movie RUDY to all students participating in the Rudy Award Program (RAP) to inspire them and introduce them to the Rudy message.

STEP 2. In addition to watching the movie participating students will read the assigned RAP book:

Grade 5&6: Rudy’s Lessons for Young Champions.

Grade 7: Rudy’s Lessons for Young Champions or another book recommended and approved by the Rudy Foundation.

Grade 8: Rudy’s Insights for Winning in Life.

The teacher will discuss the Four Life Success Principles (CHARACTER, COURAGE, CONTRIBUTION, and COMMITMENT) along with the Lesson Plans provided in this packet and examples from the movie to help students understand the meaning of the Rudy Award, build self-esteem, and become positive role models for other children and families across the nation.

STEP 3: NOMINATION
The teacher of each participating classroom will monitor their students’ progress and will select one student for nomination by filling out a Nomination Form. Parents, coaches, mentors, and other family members can also participate by sending in a nomination form for a child they feel qualifies based on the selection criteria. All Children must complete the Rudy Award Program in their school before they can be nominated.

SELECTION CRITERIA: The students who have made the best effort to live by the Four Life Success Principles, and have demonstrated the desire to improve their situation in life and better themselves both in and out of the classroom, despite the odds against them, will qualify for nomination of the Rudy Award.

To be considered for Nomination all participating students will fill out and hand in the following forms:

1. Individual Action Plan - goal sheet provided in this packet.

2. Essay - explaining why the Rudy Award is important to them, the improvements they have made to develop and integrate the Four Life Success Principles (Character, Courage, Contribution, and Commitment) into their own lives everyday, and how they have learned to set goals and stay on track to reach their Dreams. The nominee’s essay should not be judged by grammar, sentence structure, or how well it is written, but by the attitude of the student and the application of the criteria described above. The essay should be at least 1 full page in length.

STEP 4: FINALISTS
Each participating school will organize a selection committee to be approved by the Rudy Foundation. The teacher of each participating classroom will submit the following information for their nominee to the approved selection committee to select one finalist from their school (the school selection committee can not include and teacher who has submitted a nomination form):

1. Student Nomination Form - filled out by the nominating teacher
DOWLOAD PDF FORM

2. Individual Action Plan - filled out by the student

3. Essay - written by the student, explaining why the Rudy Award is important to them, the improvements they have made to develop and integrate the Four Life Success Principles (CHARACTER, COURAGE, CONTRIBUTION, and COMMITMENT) into their own lives everyday, and how they have learned to set goals and stay on track to reach their Dreams. The nominee’s essay should not be judged by grammar, sentence structure, or how well it is written, but by the attitude of the student and the application of the criteria described above. The essay should be at least 1 full page in length.

One finalist from each school will be chosen by the approved selection committee. The approved selection committee from each school will then submit their finalist’s essay, nomination form, Individual Action Plan, and a 3-5 minute video of the finalist discussing the points of their essay to the Rudy Foundation.

STEP 5: AWARDS
FINALISTS - Each finalist will be honored and recognized for their accomplishments with a Rudy Award Medallion and Rudy Credits (which can be applied towards educational or motivational programs or products approved by the Rudy Foundation such as: Leadership Camps, Self - Improvement Programs or Seminars, College Education, or Tradeschool). Finalists will also receive a Rudy Award Program Plaque to display in their school.

All schools need to have the program completed by May 5, 2007 and submit their finalist’s information to the Rudy Foundation by May 7, 2007