This Year The Virtual Pew will once again be having a essay contest to help wrestlers who summer wrestle. A link to last years essay contest follows: http://thevirtualpew.blogspot.com/2007/06/virtual-pew-wrestling-essay.html

The hope this year is to offer $500 in scholarships, plus hopefully have several coaches and wrestlers to assist with a mini camp for wrestlers based on financial ability. If enough support, and to help defray costs, we will offer this camp on a sliding scale. We will still need some to help with some costs associated.

If we don’t raise the $500, then we will guarantee awards in the amount of $300 or up to $500 which ever is on hand for this award.

Please note, wrestlers applying for the essay scholarship, will need to write a 300 Word Essay (last year was only 250 words), note, as we did last year, anything over 300 words will be penalized in the judging. Also, see the link provided above for other detailed rules. Rules will be the same with the exception of if money coming in is more than $300.

This scholarship is offered by The Virtual Pew in memory of Tyler Graebner and is intended to help promote Kansas Summer Wrestling for low income or needy youth involved in wrestling. To learn more about Tyler you can click on one of the following links:

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/comments/furches/2005/02/movies-and-good-they-can-do.html

http://thevirtualpew.blogspot.com/2007/03/tag-team-wrestling-thanks-tyler.html

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...0b-5152564cca31

Individuals or organizations willing to help with scholarship funds or camp funds can contact me at mike@thevirtualpew.com or make contributions to:

The Virtual Pew

Mail to:

The Virtual Pew
P.O. Box 17731
Wichita KS 67217

You can also call to (316) 545-7029 or (316) 258-3952

Remember 100% of funds coming in designated for this goes directly to the wrestling scholarships and wrestling camp.

Wrestlers and Coaches willing to volunteer with the camp, please contact me as well.

The Virtual Pew Wrestling Scholarship Essay was based on the following rules: The scholarships will be determined by an independent group of judges. Qualified candidates will be a resident of Kansas, and be of any ages who are wrestling in summer events. Candidates will write a maximum 250 word essay that describes their need and the impact and benefit of wrestling on their life. Contestants will release the use of the essays for The Virtual Pew to possibly use all or part on various blogs, articles, and on various wrestling forums. Essays can be mailed, to The Virtual Pew, P.O. Box 17731 Wichita Kansas 67217, or emailed to mike@thevirtualpew.com with wrestling scholarship essay in the subject line. Scholarships will be awarded as follows. 1s place $150, 2nd place $100, 3rd place $50. Anyone desiring more information can contact Mike Furches at mike@thevirtualpew.com . The deadline for receipt of the scholarship application essays is June 1, with prizes being awarded June 5. (Please Note, we are trying to raise $500 specific for the Wrestling Essay Contest this year. Also note, I am not a part of the judging and last years judges included both NCAA and State High School Champions, NCAA All American Wrestlers, Olympic Wrestlers, Wrestling Enthusiasts, and others.