2017 Eisenhower Graduate's Video Wins Redefining Ready! National Scholarship

Gwenyth Gasper, a 2017 Eisenhower graduate, has been named the national runner-up in the Redefining Ready! 2017 National Scholarship Competition sponsored by The School Superintendents Association (AASA) and Hobsons.

Redefining Ready! is a national initiative launched by the AASA to introduce new research-based metrics to more appropriately assess whether students are college, career and life ready. These research based metrics shed some light on a wide range of achievements that are linked to postsecondary success with the hope of reducing the emphasis on the ACT as the only measure of future success.

The national Twitter-based competition, open to the class of 2017 high school graduating seniors, required students to share how their high school experience shaped their post-secondary plans, and increased their confidence that they were ready for college, career and life in general. Success in college-level coursework, participation in an internship or apprenticeship, proficiency in career-related coursework, and involvement in clubs, sports and other school activities are all indicators of post-secondary readiness.

The winners were selected based on a 30-second video entry and a 250-word essay. Students were asked to post their videos to Twitter using the #RedefiningReady hashtag and tagging @AASAHQ and @Hobsons in their scholarship entry tweets. Students used phones, iPads or video cameras to film the videos and were judged on compelling content.

“America’s high schools are filled with innovators and solution makers. Our contest winners exemplify that,” said Daniel A. Domenech, AASA executive director. “We congratulate those students who participated in our scholarship competition. We wish them well as they pursue lifelong goals and dreams as they enter life beyond high school.”

Gasper was one of two national winners, with first place going to Elizabeth Cantlebary of Park City, Utah. Gasper was awarded a $4,000 scholarship which she will use as she pursues a chemistry-business major at the University of Notre Dame, with an ultimate goal of becoming a clinical pharmacist. Additional winners were named in each of AASA’s regions.

In support of “The Vision of Our Graduate”, the School District of New Berlin has been pursuing development of a framework of multiple readiness indicators, informed by the Redefining Ready! campaign, to more accurately assess students’ readiness to succeed in college, career and life. Students are encouraged to meet as many indicators of future success as is relevant and practical for them.

“It’s rewarding to see how Gwenyth was able to connect the unique learning experiences she had here in the district with her readiness to transition to life after high school,” Superintendent Joe Garza said. “Her video demonstrated how all the pieces fit together to uniquely inform and support her Academic and Career Plan and help develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions she will need for her future success.”

Related links: AASA Press Release | Redefining Ready! 2017 National Scholarship Winner Videos | The Vision of Our Graduate