Background:
This scholarship was created in honor of Carl Deal, Jr. Mr. Deal was raised in Bloomington’s Westside Crestmont housing neighborhood. He attended Fairview Elementary and Dyer Jr. High School and graduated from Bloomington High School North.
Deal was a long-time member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington (BGCB) and appreciated the impact that the organization had on his life and the lives of his family and friends. He felt a strong passion for BGCB and its strong commitment to the success of young people in our community. Deal also wanted to give back to the young people of this community. Following his death, his friends, coworkers, and family organized a fundraiser known as “King’s Blues, BBQ & Funkfest” to raise funds for a scholarship to be presented annually to a current or former Boys & Girls Clubs member for post-secondary education or training.
Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must have attended Bloomington North, Bloomington South, The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, or Bloomington Graduation School. GED recipients are also eligible. Consideration will be given for academic as well as other achievements, including extra-curricular activities or skills, and the student’s work record. Current college students are eligible. However, applicants not yet attending post-secondary school will receive first priority. Applicants must be past or current members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington (this will be verified) and complete the online application.
This scholarship application includes a written essay about the influence of the Boys & Girls Clubs staff and programs in their plans for their future, a description of their future aspirations, and how this scholarship would help them achieve those plans. The application also includes two letters of recommendation, one from a school-related faculty member and one from the community (not a family member).
Strong applicants will:
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (based on a 4.0 grading scale),
- Have demonstrated a good work ethic, outstanding citizenship, and a positive mental attitude in and out of the classroom, and have participated in extra-curricular activities.
Committee and Process: The Carl Deal, Jr. Scholarship committee will review the applicants and make a recommendation to the Community Foundation Board of Directors for final approval.
The scholarship is renewable if the student is in good standing with the educational institution and maintains a grade point equivalent to a C or better, and if funds are available after the following year, candidates are screened.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 cohort was April 6, 2025, at 11:59 pm.
Questions? Contact Marcus Whited at marcus@cfbmc.org or call the Community Foundation office at 812-333-9016.
Carl Deal Jr. Memorial Scholarship Recipients:
- 2025: Kara Brinkley, Marquette University, Nathanial Kates, Vincennes University, Annie Tran, Indiana University, and Wade Wisler, Wabash College
- 2024: Kara Brinkley, Bloomington High School South
- 2023: Maxwell Lemieux, Bloomington High School Nort, and Wade Wisler, Bloomington High School North
- 2022: Nathanial Kates, Bloomington High School North, and Anh Tran, Bloomington High School North
- 2021: Aidan Wright, Bloomington High School North
- 2019: Levi Burdine, Bloomington High School South
- 2018: Wolfe Allen, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship