•  

     
    The History of CSF
    (California Scholarship Federation)
     
          The idea for a state-wide organization to honor outstanding high school students was first proposed by Mr. Charles F. Seymour at a convention of high school principals in Oakland in 1916.
     
    For the next five years Mr. Seymour led an active campaign to win support for his idea. In 1921 Mr. Seymour appeared before the Principals' Convention in San Rafael and asked that a state-wide scholarship society be founded. Mr. Seymour's idea carried the day, and a few weeks later all high school principals received an invitation to send representatives to Los Angeles on June 4 to establish such an organization. Once the California Scholarship Federation had become a reality, thirty-four schools applied for charter membership. Twenty-nine of these received full status immediately, and chapter numbers were determined by lot. All subsequent chapter numbers have been assigned in the order of approval.
     

     

          One of the functions of CSF has been to recognize academic accomplishment in tangible ways. The original constitution provided for only one award, an embossed seal placed on the diploma of each qualifying graduate. Many voiced the desire for a pin to be worn by student members, so at a special meeting on December 20, 1922, the CSF lamp pin was approved, to be awarded only to qualifying seniors. Subsequent to this, several chapters began using local membership pins. In 1927 the April CSF meeting held in Fresno approved a "semester membership" pin, but its use was optional and has since been discontinued.

     

         

          Beginning in 1925 the Board of Directors initiated a program with several colleges and universities so that tuition scholarships were set aside specifically for CSF Life Members. Currently colleges and universities in California and throughout the nation participate in the program. The Seymour Memorial awards were established to honor both Charles F. Seymour and his devoted wife, Marian H. Seymour, who together supplied the inspiration and leadership which fostered the California Scholarship Federation.

     

    Each spring, regional subcommittees of five advisers choose outstanding Life Members from among candidates nominated by their advisers within each of the five regions. The selection is made on the basis of character, leadership, and service. In 1936 a single award of $25.00 was given to Elizabeth Murphy of Fresno High School, the first Seymour Award winner. As of spring, 2005, fifty finalists receive awards of $1,250 each, and 5 of these (one per region) each receive an additional $750 as the regional award "winners". The award is now regarded as one of the highest scholastic honors given to secondary school graduates in and for the state of California.