Saintsations to offer "Spirit Award" scholarship

The New Orleans Saintsations offer "Spirit Award," presented by the Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, to a qualified high school senior scheduled to graduate from high school in the spring of 2012 with a passion for dance.

The purpose of the "Spirit Award" is to honor a qualified high school student with a $1,500 monetary donation to pursue a degree at a four-year college or university of the recipients' choice.

TO QUALIFY:

*The recipient must have graduated from a high school located in Louisiana or Mississippi, be currently active on their high school dance or cheer team during their senior year and represent the ideals of the Saintsations organization by exemplifying a healthy lifestyle, demonstrating a positive role-model to younger students, participating in community service and high school extracurricular activities and be a good representative of the high school they attend. The award will be paid directly to the college or university to be applied to the recipient's school expense.

The Selection Criteria for the award will be based upon the following:

- GPA (2.5 or better)

- ACT/SAT scores

- School activities

- Noteworthy achievements

- Awards and recognition

- Community and personal activities

- Dance/cheer coach or school Principal Letter of Recommendation

- One-page essay titled, "The Life Lessons I've Learned from Dance and Cheer"

- Evaluation of a submitted recorded performance

Direct relatives of the Royal Sonesta Hotel and New Orleans Saintsations are not eligible.

Recipient will need to be present at the Dec. 30, New Orleans Saints home game, where the award will be publicly presented to the recipient by representatives from both the Royal Sonesta Hotel and the New Orleans Saintsations.