What is APRO? - APRO's Scholarship Foundation

Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

M A L C O L M    F O R B E S

 Congratulations to 2009 APRO Scholarship Award winner Robin Walker!  Robin completed her semester with a "3.0 grade average or above" and received the full APRO Education Scholarship.

APRO is now looking to award its 2010 APRO Education Scholarship! Call for Entries will be announced in late Spring. Below are the details regarding APRO's Educational Scholarship Foundation.

Scholarship Amount: $2000

APRO's next scholarship award will be awarded in July 2010. Monitor this page or APRO alerts for the details to be APRO's 2010 Scholarship winner. See below for details and the stories of past winners.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APRO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS:

1. Must be an employee, or son or daughter of an employee of an APRO member company in good standing.

2. Must show proof that you have been accepted or are attending an accredited college.

3. Must prove a grade point average of 3.0 or better. If High School Graduate then proof of 3.0 GPA or better.

4. Must fill out application with a narrative essay why you are the best candidate for the scholarship and the value of rent-to-own in the United States.

OPTIONAL BUT NOT REQUIRED– Reference Letters from College or High School teachers/counselors/etc.

PRIORITIES FOR APRO SCHOLARSHIP AWARD:

• Length of time as an APRO RTO employee or as the APRO Employee Sponsor of their son or daughter.
• The financial need to assist in pursuing a degree.
• The length of time already in college with proof of a 3.0 grade point or above average. Or the best grade point average as a graduating High School student.
  
• The possibility of pursuing or continuing to pursue a career in the rent-to-own industry.
• MOST IMPORTANT: Your written and submitted narrative of why you deserve the scholarship and the value of rent-to-own in America.
  

The first $1000 is immediately awarded. The remaining $1000 will be awarded after proof of completing the semester with a 3.0 grade point average or better.

Donate to APRO’s Scholarship Foundation

The APRO Scholarship Foundation has raised over $80,000 in its permanent fund to date. APRO is looking to raise a minimum of $100,000, from which to generate the annual interest amount to award scholarships every year. The APRO Scholarship Foundation's ultimate goal to raise $1,000,000 in order to award thousands of dollars worth of scholarships every year. Many APRO members have already contributed to the non-profit foundation through their APRO dues billing to help a student achieve his/her dream of earning a college degree. The APRO Scholarship Foundation is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are fully tax deductible.

Member contributions are are actively being sought and can be made in conjunction with the payment of annual APRO membership dues. Look to your dues billing on APRO membership form to donate and help your industry. Donations are tax deductible. For more information regarding the APRO Scholarship Foundation and how you can help contact APRO Public Affairs Director Richard May by email.

About APRO’s Scholarship Foundation

Association of Progressive Rental Organization members are dedicated to the future of the rent-to-own industry and have demonstrated their commitment by establishing a permanent fund to award college scholarships each year. The APRO Scholarship Foundation is currently in its development phase, raising the funds necessary to establish a permanent fund to draw interest on a yearly basis toward awarding scholarships. In 2009, APRO awarded its $2000 scholarship to Robin Walker, the daughter of APRO member 'Bo" Walker. In 2008, APRO's Scholarship went ti Show Me Rent-to-Own's Penny Wyatt. But we still need more donations to reach a permanent fund where the interest drawn from the fund creates a permanent scholarship foundation for APRO member employees. For more information, contact Richard May by e-mail or by calling 800/204-2776, ext. 104.

Meet 2009's APRO Educational Scholarship Winner - Robin Walker of RTO Rentals

Robin Walker, a University of Mississippi sophomore, is the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations' 2009 Education Scholarship winner.

Daughter of Gary “Bo” Walker, director of operations for RTO Rentals of Paris, Tennessee, Walker was selected from a competitive field of over 100 entries. A journalism major, Robin Walker hopes to pursue a career in broadcast journalism or public relations. But her interests are not limited to classroom and career as she is an active member in Habitat for Humanity and her sorority, Phi Mu, for which she serves as the philanthropy chair.

Walker also serves serves as an orientation leader, welcoming incoming freshmen to Ole Miss. Walker was injured in a severe car accident forcing her to spent three months in the hospital recuperating. Her experience there is a driving force behind her involvement as a volunteer at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She is also a talented musician having studied the violin since fourth grade. She regularly performs with the Ole Miss Orchestra.

Meet 2008's APRO Educational Scholarship Winner - Penny Wyatt of Show-Me Rent to Own

The 2008 scholarship award was an anonymous donation by a generous APRO member to help promote and raise awareness of the APRO Scholarship Foundation program.

Show-Me Rent-To-Own saleswoman Penny Wyatt is used to going the extra mile. She's a single mother raising a 14-year-old son, a full time award-winning employee and a full-time student on the Dean's list. Her commitment to both her career and education has earned notice from her employer, colleagues, customers and now from the rent-to-own industry she represents everyday.

Watch the video about APRO Scholarship Winner Penny Wyatt.

Wyatt, 40, of Desloge, Missouri, is the proud recipient of APRO's first annual Scholarship Award -- a $2,000 award made possible through the non-profit APRO Scholarship Foundation which is supported by APRO member donations. Wyatt was recently chosen from a field of applicants from various segments of the rent-to-own industry. As stipulated by the contest guidelines, all applicants must be employees of an APRO member rent-to-own company. All applicants submitted essays as part of the competition.

She is currently enrolled at Mineral Area College where she holds a 3.9 college GPA and is pursuing a pre-business administration associate degree. Wyatt takes night classes and online courses to accommodate her work schedule at Show Me Rent-To-Own's Farmington location where she is a sales assistant. It's the first step on a path that will ultimately lead to an MBA and possibly a rent-to-own store of her own.

Show Me Rent-To-Own Owner, Gary Romine, says ultimately the rent-to-own industry stands to gain by expanding educational opportunities for its members who will then put theory into practice on showroom floors.