The Rotary Club of Anthem requests a District Grant of $1,000.00 to add one scholarship to its annual scholarship program. The president of the Rotary Club of Anthem is Don Whitman. The Chair Rotary Foundation Committee, Rick Nollenberger prepared this District Grant request.
Background: The Rotary Club of Anthem established an annual scholarship program for graduating high school seniors shortly after receiving its charter in 2003. All students who are permanent residents of Anthem are eligible to apply regardless of which high school in the region they attend. They cannot be related to a member of the Rotary Club of Anthem. Students who exemplify the ideals of Rotary International are specifically encouraged to apply. An integral part of the application process is writing a cogent, concise essay, the topic of which varies annually and focuses on the Rotary motto of Service Above Self or the Rotary Four Way Test. The Scholarship Committee evaluates applicants based on academic merit, community involvement and extracurricular activities. Additional selection criteria include personal merit and leadership. Applicants need to be accepted for full-time, postsecondary enrollment at an accredited, community college, 4-year college or university, trade, vocational or proprietary school.
Implementation: This District Grant request will add $1,000.00 to the existing scholarship program for the 2016-2017 Rotary year (which coincides with the academic year of the scholarship awards). The Rotary Club of Anthem budgeted $1,000.00 representing the requisite 50% match for the District Grant. Scholarships will be awarded to the students at their high school's Annual Honors and Awards Ceremonies in May 2016. Under no circumstances will the Rotary Club of Anthem announce or notify scholarship the recipient of the extra scholarship until after the District Grant is approved and the funds are received, which is projected for July 2016. At which time the recipient will be notified of the scholarship and appropriate print, electronic, and social media releases will be made and posted. That information will include the caveat that the additional scholarship is the result of a one-time District 5490 Grant for one extra scholarship and may or may not occur in future years.
Each semester, when the Rotary Club of Anthem receives a verification of enrollment, half of a scholarship ($500) is sent to the Office of Student Financial Services of the student's school. Disbursement of the scholarships begins in August 2016 for the fall semester and will be completed by late February or early March 2017 for the spring semester.
Budget: Two, $1,000 Scholarships - TOTAL: $2,000
The Rotary Club of Anthem 50% contribution: $1,000
District 5490 DDF: $1,000
Benefits: Rotary Club of Anthem Scholarships are developed and administered by Rotarian volunteers. The goals of the program are to support local youth seeking to further their education and exposed them to activities and programs Rotary offers specifically for children and young adults. Each year, Anthem Rotarians welcome the opportunity to present the scholarships at the respective high schools' honors and awards ceremonies, congratulate the recipients, and share relative facts about the Rotary Club of Anthem and Rotary International. Scholarship recipients are requested to visit the Rotary Club of Anthem between semesters in the year of their scholarship to relate their experiences and goals to Anthem Rotarians. Funding of the annual scholarship program is from the Rotary Club of Anthem-sponsored events such as the Annual Golf Tournament and the A Taste of Fall event.
Accompanying the scholarship award certificate to each student are pamphlets, flyers and reference materials about Rotary International, Rotoract, student exchange programs and potential graduate level scholarships. In addition to announcing scholarship details, media releases provide facts about the Rotary Club of Anthem, Rotary International and Rotary Foundation's charity rating that is the result of its funding model and financial oversight. The intent is to encourage the public to participate in Rotary events and contribute to Rotary Foundation programs and projects.
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