ESUMS PTO Policy on Student Travel Grants

ESUMS students frequently excel in academic competitions and earn the opportunity to travel to national-level competitions.  We have sent students in the past to national history, poetry, digital media, mathematics, science, and engineering competitions, and they frequently win awards even at the national level.

It is the PTO's policy to provide $150 travel reimbursement for national competitions per student per year while funds last.
 Travel funding must be approved in advance by filling out the PTO funding request form prior to travel and documented with receipts upon return.  We cannot guarantee that all requests can be funded, especially at this time of the year when funds are exhausted, so preference is usually given to earlier applicants.

Attending these competitions is an expensive burden for parents.  At the same time, it is beneficial to the whole school and the entire student population.  In addition to our pride in the students themselves and their achievement, participation in national competitions creates wider awareness of ESUMS as a top STEM school -- something that will later help students in their college admissions.

The PTO's ability to fund student activities -- travel funds, club activities, field trips and more -- derives almost entirely from funds raised at the Walkathon.  The more we can raise at the Walkathon, the more support we can provide!