| If it wasn't a big enough perk to grow up next | | | | improves the quality of life in the community. |
| door to the Magic Kingdom, Orange County high | | | | Strengthen their Understanding of Core Character |
| school students are also being sought out by | | | | Traits and Values |
| nonprofit organizations in their area. As part of | | | | Trustworthiness - Respect - Fairness - Caring - |
| Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebrations, high | | | | Citizenship |
| school students from Orange County Schools | | | | Benefits for Students |
| have the chance to participate in community | | | | In addition to the school credit, participation in the |
| outreach projects with local nonprofits. | | | | competition also benefits students and their |
| Show Your Character | | | | schools in other key ways. Students will gain from |
| The "Show Your Character" competition | | | | an increased awareness of the nonprofits |
| encourages local nonprofits to design projects | | | | operating in the community. In working with a |
| that get high school students involved. Beginning in | | | | nonprofit organization, the student will learn about |
| 2004 and continuing through 2006, Orange County | | | | how nonprofit groups help at risk members of the |
| nonprofits submit project proposals designed to | | | | community and see for themselves how they |
| help local teenagers give back to their community. | | | | and others can contribute to building their |
| If selected, the nonprofits are paired with Orange | | | | community in a positive way in the future. |
| County high school students and given the | | | | Participation also qualifies the student to apply for |
| resources they needed to complete a community | | | | a Disneyland Resort Legacy Scholarship Award. |
| service project in their neighborhoods. | | | | The Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program, called |
| Projects for the competition must meet the | | | | Making Magic Through Community Service, plans |
| California curriculum standards for Service | | | | to grant $50,000 in scholarships, with a minimum |
| Learning Projects. In this way, students earn | | | | scholarship of $5000 each. |
| academic credit while learning valuable skills from | | | | Benefits for Teachers and Schools |
| nonprofit groups. | | | | Teachers and schools can get in on the action too. |
| A Service Learning Project must meet four basic | | | | In assisting their students to participate in the |
| goals (provided by the Volunteer Center of | | | | competition, teachers and schools meet the |
| Orange County, ): | | | | standards in character education and have the |
| Meet a Real Community Need | | | | opportunity to build character and civic |
| In partnership with your organization, students | | | | responsibility in their students. Teachers and |
| should gain an understanding of how the needs of | | | | students will have the advice of a Disney |
| the community you serve are identified. After | | | | VoluntEAR Project Leader who is knowledgeable |
| developing an understanding of these needs, | | | | about their nonprofit organization partner as well |
| students will actively participate in a | | | | as the character education curriculum education |
| service-learning project designed to effectively | | | | standards to be met. In addition, teachers and |
| meet those needs. | | | | schools will have the expert assistance of the |
| Gain an Understanding of the Connection Between | | | | Volunteer Center of Orange County, the California |
| School and Community | | | | State Regional Lead for Service Learning. There |
| Students should develop an understanding of the | | | | are financial benefits for teachers too, such as |
| relationship between the school and the | | | | earning a Golden Performance Award worth |
| community and the value of school-community | | | | $1000 to further improve the learning |
| partnerships. This will be gained through direct | | | | environment for their students. |
| interactions with your organization, staff and/or | | | | Disney's community outreach programs for |
| clients to develop and implement meaningful | | | | Orange County high school students combine |
| service activities that meet the needs of both the | | | | learning with public service and specifically address |
| students and the community you serve. | | | | the character education curriculum standards for |
| Develop a Sense of Civic Responsibility | | | | the state of California. Students in the area have |
| Students should be able to demonstrate an | | | | been given the opportunity to learn from Walt |
| understanding of civic responsibility through their | | | | Disney that, "the greatest moments in life are not |
| participation in this service-learning activity. The | | | | concerned with selfish achievement but rather |
| project must meet a real community need and | | | | with the things we do for the people in need. |