Corps members: Apply now for 2008 Friends of DCI scholarships

During the coming summer months, the average high school or college student will spend up to 500 hours working a part-time job to earn money for school and other expenses. Participants in Drum Corps International performing groups will devote these same summer months to the incredible opportunity of putting themselves on the football practice field, rehearsing hundreds of hours for the chance to perform in front of thousands of dedicated fans—a far cry from the "average" lifestyle of a typical undergraduate. More than 70 percent of drum corps participants are full-time students at higher educational institutions, and in a world with increasing tuition and text book costs, members of the Friends of DCI program understand the financial challenges these corps members face. Last year for the first time ever, the Friends created a scholarship program to collect funds in order to award academic scholarships for students who excel both on and off the field. This summer, the Friends of DCI will award three academic scholarships of $2,000 each to corps members participating in the 2008 Drum Corps International Summer Tour. High school seniors or college students enrolled for courses in the fall of 2008 who are current members in good standing of an Open or World Class corps competing in the 2008 DCI Summer Tour may apply. The application deadline is Friday, March 21, 2008, and recipients will be announced during the 2008 DCI World Championships in August. Apply online for a 2008 Friends of DCI Scholarship. View more details about the Friends of DCI Scholarship. About the Friends of DCI Founded in 1981, the Friends of DCI (FDCI) program began with a dedicated group of some 30 passionate drum corps fans who came together and decided to donate a few dollars more than the value of their tickets, with the hope of contributing to future generations of Drum Corps International and its corps. Today, funds are raised each year in addition to two special programs managed by FDCI. The "Friends of DCI Scholarship" creates academic funding for participating corps members, and the annual "Volunteer of the Year Awards" acknowledge the unsung heroes who are the lifeblood of each of the corps. Learn more about the Friends of DCI and about becoming a Friends member.