Best Suggestion that enhances the Senior Connects program - a $100 payment will be awarded every twelve months. Suggestions can be submitted by anyone and at anytime to recognition@seniorconnects.org. Suggestions that focus on enhancing, improving, or expanding the Senior Connects program will be given highest consideration. The winner will be selected during the first quarter of each year and posted on the website. Members of the Board of Advisors, officers, and board members are welcomed to submit suggestions, but are not eligible to receive the cash award.

Certificate of Success - based upon three months of service and a recommendation from the Independent Care Facility, upon request, each member will receive a Certificate of Success. When possible, Senior Connects will coordinate the presentation of this recognition with the applicable Independent Care Facility, the individual’s sponsoring organization (e.g. the Boy Scouts of America if Senior Connects program is being used to qualify for the Eagle Scout’s service requirement), school, or other organization of the individual’s choice. This award is suitable for framing. To qualify for this recognition, please send the following information to recognition@seniorconnects.org:

1. Applicant’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email
address.
2. Mentor’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
3. Name of Independent Care Facility helped and dates that training was
provided.
4. Name of contact person at Independent Care Facility together with address,phone number (with area code), and email address.
5. One paragraph of what you gained and what you feel you gave the residents during this period. Note: Unless you specify otherwise, Senior Connects may post insightful quotes or excerpts upon this website at its discretion.

The National VIP Award - the individual making the most significant contribution using the Senior Connects program each twelve month period will receive a $2,500 gift and his or her contribution will be detailed on this website. As many as six regional winners will be selected and each individual not chosen for the National VIP Award will receive a $500 gift. All nominees will receive a letter of appreciation. Advisory board members, officers, board members, and individuals that are directly or indirectly related to members of the selection committee are not eligible to participate in this program. If you have questions about who is eligible, email recognition@seniorconnects.org in advance of beginning the program. The decisions of the judges are final. By participating in the VIP program, you agree that the judges’ decisions are final, and are not subject to dispute resolution such as litigation or arbitration. Often times, a Mentor or a manager at an Independent Care Facility will nominate an individual for their contribution helping teach residents basic computer and Internet skills, but all nominations including self-nomination will be accepted at anytime during the year.

The purpose of this program is to recognize those middle, high school, and college students that contribute to computer literacy by making computers more accessible within independent and assisted living facilities, or to apartment complexes whose residents reside there partly due to public assistance (e.g., HUD and Section 8 Housing). The single most important criteria when considering winners will be the number of apartment complexes that received computers, and as a result of this, the total number of residents that either gained access to a computer or that received an additional or enhanced computer and/or Internet access. All computers must be Pentium I’s or newer, properly licensed, and in good working condition. At a minimum, an OS (Linux or Windows) should be installed, together with an office application (i.e., Open Office or MS Office). All necessary permission should be received from the senior complex or the facility with residents that receive public assistance.


To qualify for this recognition, please send the following information to recognition@seniorconnects.org:

1. Applicant’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email
address.
2. Mentor’s (or parent’s) name, address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
3. Name of Independent Care Facilities helped and dates that training was
provided.
4. Name of contact person at Independent Care Facility together with address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
5. 1-3 digital pictures of the applicant working at the Senior Connects program.
6. An explanation of the following, the total of which does not exceed 5000
words:
a. Your inspiration. Briefly explain what motivated you participate in Senior
Connects. Who or what inspired you, and why did you feel it was important?
b. Your effort. Briefly explain the effort it took to provide this service. Did you recruit other to help? What was the most difficult part of accomplishing this program?
c. Impact. What do you believe you accomplished. Did you meet your
expectations?
d. Personal growth. What did you learn from this experience? Did you
acquire any new skills? What was the most memorable part of working at
Senior Connects. Can you recall a specific incident that made you feel
particularly good? What would you tell other students about your experience?

Letter of Recommendation - sometimes a letter of recommendation can significantly help when one is applying for a job or provide an edge when one is applying for a prestigious college on your “Wish List.” For those individuals helping Independent Care Facilities by using the Senior Connects program for six months or longer, we would be pleased to write a letter of recommendation in your behalf detailing your individual accomplishments. For us to be able to complete this, we will need you to send your request and the following information at least ninety days in advance to recognition@seniorconnects.org:

1. Applicant’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email
address.
2. Mentor’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
3. Name of Independent Care Facilities helped and dates that training was
provided.
4. Name of contact person at Independent Care Facilities together with address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
5. Purpose of the letter of recognition (e.g., is it for college admission, a job, or some other purpose?)
6. Any points that you would appreciate us stressing.
7. The address where the letter should be sent (e.g., to you so that you can include it with your application or directly to your prospective employer,
college, or other organization.

Senior Connects will contact your Mentor and Independent Care Facilities to better understand your accomplishments and how your work has impacted the people that you assisted and so that we can cite specific examples of your work. This is an opportunity for Senior Connects to help you, much as you assisted others by devoting your time for this worthwhile cause. Our recommendation will mirror what your Independent Care Facilities say about you - and this is great because they are grateful and appreciative for a job well done!

Advisory Board - for those with twelve months or more of experience helping Independent Care Facilities using the Senior Connects program (or eighteen months helping teach seniors Internet skills in some other program) and interested in a leadership role in the corporation, please provide the following information to recognition@seniorconnects.org:

1. Applicant’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email
address.
2. Mentor’s name, address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
3. Name of Independent Care Facilities helped and dates that training was
provided.
4. Name of contact person at Independent Care Facilities together with address, phone number (with area code), and email address.
5. In a letter not to exceed 1000 words, please let us know how you believe that you could help us and why you are well qualified to do so (e.g., explain why you would like to help assist in corporate development by making aware and encouraging others in your community to participate in this program).

You may apply for an Advisory Board position at any time.