<p>Has anyone who applied for the Maryland Distinguished Scholar award this year (2010), for either the Academic Achievement award or the Talent in the Arts award, been notified as to whether they are a Finalist, Semi-Finalist or Honorable Mention?</p>
<p>Does anyone have a status other than "Qualified" on the MDCAPS online system?</p>
<p>Many early decision deadlines for college applications are November 1, so I hope they notifiy us soon. I don't see how to have the application fees waived for MD schools if we don't have anything in writing. Plus, the applicants can't put the awards on their applications (which will really hurt the ones who are applying as any type of fine arts major).</p>
<p>The MHEC office just keeps saying they will send the letters out in a week, but still nothing. Is there some other oversight contact who can give us some answers?</p>
<p>I just created an account for that website, having applied through my guidance counselor, but never knowing this online system existed. For mine it says, Distinguished Scholar Award - Achievement - Applicant Status: Selected. </p>
<p>I’m pretty excited if this means I actually was selected, but this is the first I’m hearing of it.</p>
<p>I think that’s good news for you! My son applied for both the achievement category and the talent category. His status says “qualified” for the achievement category, and “selected” for the talent category (you can’t win both). The user manual (under the “help” section says that the category of “selected” means that you have been selected for an award, but I don’t know if that equals Finalist or Semi-finalist status. When I called two weeks ago to ask, they said it didn’t mean anything until all the data was entered and the letters go out, but that didn’t make much sense to me, unless the program automatically assigns “selected” status to the ones with the highest scores, and not all applicants’ data are there. I’m hesitant to call again, because I certainly don’t want to annoy them. I am wondering if school guidance offices would be able to find out?</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I received a letter today. (5 pages, large brown envelope) </p>
<p>I am a finalist and my MDCaps account says “selected” … GREAT! I plan to use the $$ to study abroad …</p>
<p>Does the congratulatory letter mentioned which college will host the Recognition Day at which day? From my recollection it was on September 12th in UMBC last year.</p>
<p>Yes, the program will be on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Coppin State University from Noon till 4:15. It will include a Visual Arts Exhibit, a Showcase of the Performing Arts, and a College Fair/Financial Aid Overview Sessions later in the day. Since I’m already in college, I’ll just attend the first half … :)</p>
<p>a lot of smart people will be there plus great show of Performing Arts.</p>
<p>Son’s packet came today with Finalist notification. It also matches the “Finalist” status in the MDCAPS account, so the information should be accurate. Congrats!</p>
<p>I have heard that the MD Distinguished Scholar program has been cancelled due to budget cuts. I was further told that current HS seniors who received notification that they got the award in fall 2010 will not receive the scholarship.</p>
<p>Can anyone confirm this?</p>
<p>one of four HSA Exams, US government Assessment, is canceled for all high school students.</p>
<p>My daughter was a semi-finalist this past fall. We had heard that in the past, most if not all semi-finalists who chose to go to school in Maryland ended up getting the scholarship. When we did not receive a letter in April (as we were told we would) for my daughter to declare her college intentions, we called. (She will be attending a college in MD.) We were told that several months ago, the legislature had cut funding to the Distinguished Scholars Talent in the Arts program and non of the semi-finalists would be eligible for the award. She did not mention the fate of the finalists. To say the least, we are very disappointed.</p>