Attention – 9th & 10th Grade Students! PSAT Course at Grace Baptist Church Be prepared for the October 2012 exam! For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Sanders bhsandersmd@aol.com Test-Taking workshop All parents are invited to a Test-Taking workshop held on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm. The workshop will focus on how to help and assist your child in preparing and studying for important school exams. For more information please contact Yvonne Brock at 914-885-7289 or shekedia@yahoo.com.	Sponsored by the Educators’ Ministry, and MOCCA
courtesy of Velma McKenzie-Orr	Highlights of MOCCA SUNDAY 2011 At Grace Baptist Church The Bookstore At Grace highlights of Grace Baptist Church celebration of academic achievements of youth and young adults durinhog it Ministry of College and Career Alliance's (MOCCA) Sunday. CD/DVD of MOCCA Sunday Service available at The Bookstore At Grace.

What Is the MOCCA Ministry?

 

The Ministry of College and Career Alliance, MOCCA, was introduced over 25 years ago by Grace Baptist Church’s First Lady, Inez Richardson.  The MOCCA Ministry serves and supports the pursuit of higher education by all high school graduates who are members or who are active in the ministries of Grace Baptist Church.   MOCCA provides annual scholarships to assist in their education-related expenses and fosters communication and mentorship to encourage their continued connection with the church while they pursue their educational goals. 

 

MOCCA Scholars receive $600 in the fall term every year once the Ministry receives official documentation that they are enrolled as full-time under-graduate students in good standing.  Checks are mailed payable to the scholars at their college addresses.  MOCCA Scholars also receive love packages prepared by MOCCA Ministry volunteers twice annually, in November and April.  MOCCA Scholars are assigned mentors who communicate with them regularly.  Using the MOCCA link on the church website (www.gracebapt.org), they can also receive updated college scholarship information and access MOCCA applications.

MOCCA is one of the Youth Ministries.  It is now chaired by Dr. Charlotte Phoenix.  Ministry members meet the fourth Monday of each month, September through June.  In February, they review MOCCA Award applications of high school seniors planning to pursue higher education in the fall of that year.  Applications of Continuing MOCCA Scholars (college freshman, sophomore and junior year students in good standing) are reviewed in June.  The MOCCA Breakfast and Service are held in July.  All of the recipients and their parents are invited to have breakfast with Pastor Richardson, Mrs. Richardson and the MOCCA and Scholarship Ministries in the Banquet Hall at Grace.   MOCCA Scholars are introduced to the congregation and receive their award letters from Pastor Richardson at the 11:30 service following the breakfast.

Criteria for MOCCA Scholars follow and applications for MOCCA can be downloaded by clicking on the appropriate links below.  Applications are also available in the church lobby in December and January for high school seniors and in May and June for continuing scholars already enrolled in colleges or other post-secondary institutions

Criteria For Mocca Scholars

Initial Applicants MUST:

• Be a high school senior or recent graduate not out of high school more than two years
• Submit applications signed by the applicant’s Grace Baptist Church Ministry Leader or service project advisor and submitted to MOCCA by the deadline:  February 21.

Initial Recipients MUST:

• Attend the College 101 Workshop and at least one of the other workshops presented for MOCCA Scholars
• Participate in at least two MOCCA Scholar service activities between March and June
• Attend the Annual MOCCA Sunday Breakfast and Service or submit in writing at least one week prior to the service a reason for NOT attending.  Reasons for not attending will be reviewed before award letters are distributed to the absentees.
• Submit official documentation that they are enrolled as full-time students
• Submit their college contact information including mailing and e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1.

Scholarships are awarded for a maximum of four consecutive years for a Bachelors Degree and two consecutive years for an Associates Degree.  MOCCA Scholars enrolled in five-year programs will receive awards for their fifth year upon the Ministry’s receipt of documentation from their colleges.

Continuing Applicants MUST:

• Have received a scholarship for no more than three years (or four if in documented five-year undergraduate program)
• Submit complete application by the deadline:  June 21.

Continuing Recipients MUST:

• Attend the Annual MOCCA Sunday Breakfast and Service or submit in writing at least one week prior to the service a reason for NOT attending.  Reasons for not attending will be reviewed before award letters are distributed to the absentees.
• Submit official documentation that they are enrolled as full-time under-graduate students in good standing 
• Submit their college contact information including mailing and e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers NO LATER THAN OCTOBER 1.