To influence qualified Civil Engineering students' career paths by providing financial assistance in the pursuit of study in the field of
transportation engineering.
Administer contributions and endowment funds to insure that sufficient interest is generated annually to fund at least one substantial award.
As of the end of its Fiscal Year on December 31, 2008, the endowment fund had a balance of $132,336.50.
Make award payments at the start of each academic period to the institution for credit to the recipient's account. Since 1986, a total of $93,850
has been awarded to Civil Engineering students at universities in Alabama.
Mission
Awards Available
Two awards were available for 2009. The 2009 Charles E. Alexander Memorial Transportation Engineering Scholarship was in the amount of $4,800.
The 2009 Billy Jones Memorial Traffic Engineering Scholarship was in the amount of $2,500.
Application
To apply for a scholarship, a candidate must submit a completed official application along with the recommendation of a faculty member from an
accredited Civil Engineering Department at a university in Alabama and/or the recommendation of a Member or Affiliate Member of the Alabama Section
of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
A full disclosure of current student loans or other financial aid must be included in the application.
Applications may be obtained from faculty members in the Civil Engineering Departments at Auburn University, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, in January of each year.
Completed applications must be submitted by mid-February of each year to:
Robert L. Vecellio
HMR ALSITE Scholarships, Inc.
Department of Civil Engineering
238 Harbert Engineering Center
Auburn University, AL 36849-5337
A full disclosure of current student loans or other financial aid must be included in the application.
Applications may be obtained from faculty members in the Civil Engineering Departments at Auburn University, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville, in January of each year.
Completed applications must be submitted by mid-February of each year to:
Robert L. Vecellio
HMR ALSITE Scholarships, Inc.
Department of Civil Engineering
238 Harbert Engineering Center
Auburn University, AL 36849-5337
Award Requirements
A candidate for a scholarship award must meet each of several criteria. To be considered for the award, a candidate shall be:
1. Enrolled in Civil Engineering at an ABET accredited university in the State of Alabama;
2. Academically classified by the university as a junior or senior;
3. Demonstrate a strong commitment to the discipline of transportation engineering;
4. Recommended by a faculty member or Member or Affiliate Member of ALSITE
5. Demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship; and
6. Not related to any Board Member of Harold M. Raynor ALSITE Scholarships, Inc.
1. Enrolled in Civil Engineering at an ABET accredited university in the State of Alabama;
2. Academically classified by the university as a junior or senior;
3. Demonstrate a strong commitment to the discipline of transportation engineering;
4. Recommended by a faculty member or Member or Affiliate Member of ALSITE
5. Demonstrate a financial need for the scholarship; and
6. Not related to any Board Member of Harold M. Raynor ALSITE Scholarships, Inc.
Candidate Evaluation
The Foundation Selection Committee reviews each application and ranks the candidates on the basis of the following evaluation categories:
Academic Achievement
Career Objectives
Financial Need
Leadership Activities
Employment History
Academic Achievement
Career Objectives
Financial Need
Leadership Activities
Employment History
Academic Requirements
To receive scholarship payments, the recipient must remain enrolled in a fully accredited Civil Engineering curriculum and must provide to the
Foundation's Treasurer the following information each grading period:
Confirmation of enrollment
Confirmation of course schedule
Copy of prior grading period grades
Upon receipt of the required information, scholarship award payments will be made at the start of each academic period to the institution for credit to the recipient's account.
Confirmation of enrollment
Confirmation of course schedule
Copy of prior grading period grades
Upon receipt of the required information, scholarship award payments will be made at the start of each academic period to the institution for credit to the recipient's account.
About the Foundation
ALSITE Scholarships, Inc, was founded as a private Foundation incorporated in the State of Alabama on May 24, 1994. On September 2, 1994, the IRS
classified the Foundation as a tax-exempt, private Foundation. This status means that any contributions from donors are deductible from both their
federal and state tax returns. Articles of Amendment, changing the name of the Foundation to Harold M. Raynor ALSITE Scholarships, Inc., were filed
in Baldwin County, AL, on May 5, 2006.
The Foundation is independent of, but associated with, the Alabama Section of ITE. A Board of Directors governs the Foundation and the Board has five permanent members:
Dr. Robert L. Vecellio, Chair
Dr. Daniel S. Turner, Vice Chair
David R. Griffin, Treasurer
John R. McCarthy, Secretary
Harold M. Raynor, Director
The Board has three Ex-Officio Members:
Rocky Garrison
Kenneth J. Cush
Julie W. LeNoir
The Foundation is independent of, but associated with, the Alabama Section of ITE. A Board of Directors governs the Foundation and the Board has five permanent members:
Dr. Robert L. Vecellio, Chair
Dr. Daniel S. Turner, Vice Chair
David R. Griffin, Treasurer
John R. McCarthy, Secretary
Harold M. Raynor, Director
The Board has three Ex-Officio Members:
Rocky Garrison
Kenneth J. Cush
Julie W. LeNoir
History of the Scholarship Program
The Beginning:
On March 6, 1986 at the Spring Meeting of the Alabama Division ITE, a motion was passed to accept a $1,000 donation from Traffic Products Incorporated to set up a scholarship for students studying transportation engineering. The motion further required that a committee be established to make the initial award at the 1986 Annual Meeting of the Division. On June 20, 1986, Charles Alexander presented Norman Steigler, a member of the Auburn ITE Student Chapter, a check for the first Alabama Division Founders Scholarship Award.
A Perpetual Scholarship:
In its business meeting of June 20, 1986, the Alabama Division received a report from Scholarship Committee Chairman Rod Long who reported that the Committee wanted to establish a perpetuating fund in excess of $10,000. The interest from this fund would be used to give a yearly scholarship to a financially needy student at an accredited engineering school within the State of Alabama. The student would have to show a strong interest in transportation engineering by work history, course selection and future goals.
Raising the Money and Adopting a Policy:
At the June 20, 1986 business meeting, Joe Hoehn moved to have the proceeds of the Annual Auction go to the Scholarship Fund. The motion passed and $122.50 was placed into the Fund. In a meeting of October 22, 1986 the Board of Directors of Alabama Division ITE transferred $500 from the general treasury to the Scholarship Fund.
In the business meeting of the Alabama Division ITE on October 23, 1986, the Scholarship Policy Committee announced that their report on procedures would be published in the next edition of the Newsletter. The Committee also reported a balance of $2,122.50 on deposit in the endowment fund of the International ITE.
In its business meeting on March 19, 1987, the membership voted to increase all meeting registration fees by $5.00 to produce more funds for the scholarship endowment. Additionally, a scholarship operating policy was adopted by vote of the Division.
Success:
The original Scholarship Committee placed a great deal of work into developing the operating policy. They wanted something of which the Division could be proud. They worked hard to provide open, clear and strong fiscal management. The Committee established a large goal of $20,000. At that time it seemed reasonable to provide a $1,000 scholarship every year. None of the original Committee members dared to dream that the goal would be reached so quickly and so successfully. Nor did the Committee imagine that $1,000 would ever be insufficient to pay tuition and fees at a state university.
On March 6, 1986 at the Spring Meeting of the Alabama Division ITE, a motion was passed to accept a $1,000 donation from Traffic Products Incorporated to set up a scholarship for students studying transportation engineering. The motion further required that a committee be established to make the initial award at the 1986 Annual Meeting of the Division. On June 20, 1986, Charles Alexander presented Norman Steigler, a member of the Auburn ITE Student Chapter, a check for the first Alabama Division Founders Scholarship Award.
A Perpetual Scholarship:
In its business meeting of June 20, 1986, the Alabama Division received a report from Scholarship Committee Chairman Rod Long who reported that the Committee wanted to establish a perpetuating fund in excess of $10,000. The interest from this fund would be used to give a yearly scholarship to a financially needy student at an accredited engineering school within the State of Alabama. The student would have to show a strong interest in transportation engineering by work history, course selection and future goals.
Raising the Money and Adopting a Policy:
At the June 20, 1986 business meeting, Joe Hoehn moved to have the proceeds of the Annual Auction go to the Scholarship Fund. The motion passed and $122.50 was placed into the Fund. In a meeting of October 22, 1986 the Board of Directors of Alabama Division ITE transferred $500 from the general treasury to the Scholarship Fund.
In the business meeting of the Alabama Division ITE on October 23, 1986, the Scholarship Policy Committee announced that their report on procedures would be published in the next edition of the Newsletter. The Committee also reported a balance of $2,122.50 on deposit in the endowment fund of the International ITE.
In its business meeting on March 19, 1987, the membership voted to increase all meeting registration fees by $5.00 to produce more funds for the scholarship endowment. Additionally, a scholarship operating policy was adopted by vote of the Division.
Success:
The original Scholarship Committee placed a great deal of work into developing the operating policy. They wanted something of which the Division could be proud. They worked hard to provide open, clear and strong fiscal management. The Committee established a large goal of $20,000. At that time it seemed reasonable to provide a $1,000 scholarship every year. None of the original Committee members dared to dream that the goal would be reached so quickly and so successfully. Nor did the Committee imagine that $1,000 would ever be insufficient to pay tuition and fees at a state university.
Overview of Other ITE Scholarships
International ITE conducted a survey of scholarship programs in 1991. Although not all of the Districts and Sections answered the questionnaire, 16 replied
that they had scholarships. District 7 began the first scholarship program in 1975. The Alabama Division and the North Central Section both started their
scholarships in 1986, becoming the fourth and fifth ITE Scholarships.
Scholarships awarded by other ITE Sections and Districts range from $300 to $1,500. The amount awarded by Alabama appears to be comfortably in the upper part of this range. The other ITE organizations awarding scholarships indicate that they plan to give future awards in the amount of $1000 to $3,000. Usually the amount they give is determined by the amount of money on hand or the amount of pledges received for an individual year.
ALSITE has done a good job of accumulating funds. Other Sections require members to make (painful) pledges each year, or place great pressure on ABD Members to provide all of the funds. The Alabama Section elected to use other more indirect fund raising avenues. Its funds originate from many sources including voluntary gifts, meeting surcharges, the Annual Auction, and interest from the endowment.
Scholarships awarded by other ITE Sections and Districts range from $300 to $1,500. The amount awarded by Alabama appears to be comfortably in the upper part of this range. The other ITE organizations awarding scholarships indicate that they plan to give future awards in the amount of $1000 to $3,000. Usually the amount they give is determined by the amount of money on hand or the amount of pledges received for an individual year.
ALSITE has done a good job of accumulating funds. Other Sections require members to make (painful) pledges each year, or place great pressure on ABD Members to provide all of the funds. The Alabama Section elected to use other more indirect fund raising avenues. Its funds originate from many sources including voluntary gifts, meeting surcharges, the Annual Auction, and interest from the endowment.
Status of the Scholarship Program
The Alabama Section established a very worthwhile scholarship program. A large endowment was created to perpetually provide scholarships to students interested
in transportation engineering. However, in 1993 the membership's concern over the size of the endowment, and changes to IRS rules regarding gifts and documentation
of gifts, grew larger and caused the Section to rethink the management of its scholarship program.
After a yearlong study, on January 20, 1994 an Ad Hoc Scholarship Policy Committee composed of David Griffin, Harold Raynor and Dan Turner recommended to the membership a stronger form of management for the endowment funds ... a tax exempt, private foundation.
Within six months of the time the ALSITE membership approved the concept, ALSITE Scholarships, Inc. had been chartered in Alabama and received tax-exempt status from both the state and federal governments. All of the money in the ITE Endowment Fund was transferred to the newly formed Foundation on February 3, 1995.
In its business meeting of October 5, 2005, the membership voted to increase the meeting registration surcharge fee to $10.00 in order to produce additional funds for the scholarship endowment.
In 2006, the DSITE and the ALSITE Transportation Engineering Scholar Award was created to honor Victor A. McSwain, who contributed significantly to the success of the scholarship auction held at each Annual Meeting. Each organization contributed $ 750 to create the $ 1500 scholarship award.
The Foundation uses two investment vehicles for its funds. The majority of the monies are invested in high yield, long term CD's. The balance of the Foundation's funds is deposited in a Money Market Account.
After a yearlong study, on January 20, 1994 an Ad Hoc Scholarship Policy Committee composed of David Griffin, Harold Raynor and Dan Turner recommended to the membership a stronger form of management for the endowment funds ... a tax exempt, private foundation.
Within six months of the time the ALSITE membership approved the concept, ALSITE Scholarships, Inc. had been chartered in Alabama and received tax-exempt status from both the state and federal governments. All of the money in the ITE Endowment Fund was transferred to the newly formed Foundation on February 3, 1995.
In its business meeting of October 5, 2005, the membership voted to increase the meeting registration surcharge fee to $10.00 in order to produce additional funds for the scholarship endowment.
In 2006, the DSITE and the ALSITE Transportation Engineering Scholar Award was created to honor Victor A. McSwain, who contributed significantly to the success of the scholarship auction held at each Annual Meeting. Each organization contributed $ 750 to create the $ 1500 scholarship award.
The Foundation uses two investment vehicles for its funds. The majority of the monies are invested in high yield, long term CD's. The balance of the Foundation's funds is deposited in a Money Market Account.
Past Recipients