<p>I feel like Frankenstein being chased by villagers with pitchforks.</p>
<p>Sorry if I offended anyone. Wrong side of the bed this morning, obviously. Y’all have a great day.</p>
<p>My experience is that the majority of girls would welcome the attention of a nice young man…</p>
<p>RTR</p>
<p>I think showing gratitude and respect is an honorable trait that should be practiced frequently. Part of what drew me to the UA was the genuine sense of hospitality and courtesy to others. It is a great school that offers outstanding opportunities for academic, social, and personal growth with a generous scholarship to boot. I’d really like to see it embraced and continued. I don’t feel the tone of this thread honors or reflects well upon the spirit of the UA. Quite frankly, the sense of entitlement of some of these posts is pretty rude.</p>
<p>^^^ I’ll just add that the opportunities offered to many within the HC whether NMF, CBH, Fellows, Presidentials, or otherwise are amazing. Certainly, the various meetings, social gatherings, and other related functions server multiple purposes, not the least of which, is to make yourself known to the attendees and leaders (both students and staff) the organize and attend these functions. This interaction often leads to other opportunities, whether they be social or academic. While It’s no longer my role to push or drag my D to these events or hover over her to determine if she’s attending, I’m happy to know that she does attend and is being rewarded for her participation in many of these events in some many ways. Many students, whether because of personality traits, schedules, or perceived perceptions etc. will choose not to attend many functions like these, and that IS their choice. Those choices may have unseen consequences like all choices we make … period.</p>
<p>This thread has begun to sound a bit like my living room of late. My D and I normally get along quite well but lately there has been some tension and snarkiness. Since she is my third, I know that is very normal at this stage. Helps us to actually be able to leave them at school! </p>
<p>Maybe more than a few of us are under some pressure right now. </p>
<p>We leave for T-Town on Friday and could not be more excited. Roll tide!</p>
<p>D received a letter that she could pick up her iPad in the bookstore, so the required dinner is something different. Thanks KJCPhmom for emailing Susan Hayes about transportation. Please let me know if you hear anything.</p>
<p>I have no dog in this race but after reading some of the comments it seems there is a misunderstanding of the purpose of scholarships.</p>
<p>A scholarship of this type is not a gift to the recipient. It is an offer from the school to entice certain students that the school has determined provide some value to the school. In this case the school wants to be able to advertise a large number of NMFs attending the school. They value this, so they pay for it. </p>
<p>All schools use scholarships to set different prices for different students for whatever reasons determined as important to the administration. Different schools place different value on what students they want to attract and then distribute scholarships accordingly.</p>
<p>It is a transaction pure and simple.</p>
<p>Thank you for your comment, but there is no misunderstanding about the scholarships or their purpose. I personally believe it is always appropriate to show gratitude to your host or benefactor.</p>
<p>Oh all I can say is “wow”, and I probably won’t post again. Thanks for the nice comments on this thread that were helpful. My heart hurts a little, but nonetheless we leave Friday for AA, extremely thrilled and beyond PROUD of our DD for being recognized for her amazing hard work and the most wonderful young lady that she is. Nothing will take that away. Well onto packing. Roll Tide. :-)</p>
<p>Use of the word benefactor is exactly my point. There are no benefactors involved in this type of scholarship.</p>
<p>I think a scholarship recipient should express thank you to the school in the same way anyone should express thank you as courtesy to all parties involved in any transaction. </p>
<p>A NMF student and their family who looks at this scholarship as a gift from a benefactor is doing themselves an injustice. I beleive you should enter the situation with the perspective that this is one school of many with an offer. The initial response should be - “That is a very nice offer, what else is available to make the package better compared to x?”</p>
<p>After the negotiations are complete and you have chosen the school then you should thank the participants.</p>
<p>With respect to the dinner, if the school says it is part of the deal then you go.</p>
<p>Who on this board is not proud of their child’s accomplishments? I hope you are not suggesting that I am not.</p>
<p>Let me know if there will be any transportation. My daughter is on crutches and would not be happy arriving to the dinner a sweaty mess.</p>
<p>Getting back to the dress question…for a girl, here’s an idea: Why not a sundress (to beat the heat while she’s walking to the dinner) with a cute little shrug or shawl to throw over her shoulders once she reaches the dinner venue? The shrug will make the outfit a little more formal and less “bare-nekkid.” Just a thought.</p>
<p>Re all the other stuff: I am so sorry re all these misunderstandings. All our kids are fantastic!!!</p>
<p>Since Crimson Ride has “some” service on Move-In weekends to transport parents to/from designated parking areas, I wonder if UAHousing can chime in on if it will still be running at the time these students need to get to their dinner (ride a bus, ie. north part of campus to south part) they arrive cool and still collected. If they are no longer running at the end great way to (“are you walking my way”) share a walk with new found compatriots.</p>
<p>Do the NMFs have a FB group? Nova, maybe your D could post that she is in need of a ride. Hopefully there can be some formal transportation arranged though.</p>
<p>All right, here’s the solution. We form an organization called NMF (No More Fussing :)).We recruit a volunteer driver at least 25 years old. We rent a 15 passenger air conditioned van from this place: <a href=“http://www.metrotruckrental.com/locations-tuscaloosa.html[/url]”>http://www.metrotruckrental.com/locations-tuscaloosa.html</a></p>
<p>The rental cost is $110. We charge NMF passengers $10/head for a round trip from their residence to the dinner venue. The driver shuttles as often as necessary to accommodate the throng. If the number of passengers who reserve a space gets too large, we add vans and drivers. The profits, after gas and rental expense, are donated to a tornado relief fund in Tuscaloosa. </p>
<p>Roll Tide.</p>
<p>GStudent,</p>
<p>Actually, some of the scholarships DO have actual benefactors. My D received several scholarships in addition to the Presidential. I mentioned them in my earlier post. and referenced in the post to which you responded She did indeed have lunch with the benefactors of two of them and was also required to write a brief note to them expressing gratitude (even though should would have without being asked). I think asking a scholarship recipient to attend a dinner is well within reason. It really baffles me why it would be such a big deal for someone to attend a simple dinner even if it means having to find a way across campus simply out of respect for the opportunity the UA is providing. I can understand if there is a true conflict with the dinner that cannot be changed or a physical limitation such as crutches as a reason not to walk. I have no ill feelings toward NMF, but there have been some posts in the past that simply seemed entitled. I’m sure I have ruffled some feathers for a few regular UA posters from time to time and for that I apologize. This is one of those rare times when I feel a line has been crossed. As Beth’s mom said, sometimes you simply need to do the right thing by doing as you are asked.</p>
<p>i second all that bamagirls said.</p>
<p>Slippy2000: You may want to mention to your son that this is an opportunity for GOOD, free food. You never turn down those opportunities in life.</p>
<p>Oh and, perhaps a question previously posed was not answered, but here goes:</p>
<p>Dictionaly.com defines “required” in this context as: to impose need or occasion for; make necessary or indispensible. </p>
<p>If the invite says required then it’s required.</p>
<p>Would you or your son feel comfortable asking the same question of the organizer of the dinner and indicating a negative RSVP due to the fact that there is a perception that the event might be lame? The premise is ridiculous.</p>