Rotary Scholarships

 In 1982 when Gus White (one of our charter members and past district governor) died, a trust fund of $10,000 was set up for a scholarship in his memory. Hardy Graham started this trust with a $1,000 donation. Gus White's two grandsons are active in our club today. In 1983 Old & Third National Bank (now Commercial Bank & Trust Company) had a trust fund that had been left in a will for scholarships; the trust officer, John Pylant, asked if they could join with us to make the processing of applicants easier. In 1984 we jumped to $5,000 and exploded from that point as seen below:

We now have approximately $500,000 in a trust fund where the interest is awarded in scholarships. We have another $200,000 left in a will by Madge and Elmo Short, who were long time teachers at Hornbeak, and the income from this money will go to students majoring in education from one of our county schools.

Investing in Students, Strengthening Our Community

Our scholarship program is focused on giving needy students a real chance to pursue higher education. It began by helping graduating seniors who lacked support or encouragement at home, with many Rotarians personally mentoring students through enrollment and checking in on their progress. Over time, the program expanded beyond first-year awards, thanks in part to Hardy Graham’s “Sophomore Program,” a $35,000 funded scholarship that provides a $2,500 annual award ,and now includes many upperclassmen scholarships as well.

We’ve also broadened our focus to include vocational and technology training, recognizing that our rural area needs skilled trades and technical careers just as much as traditional college paths. Short-term programs (often 9 months to 2–3 years) can lead to strong, stable livelihoods and help meet the growing demand for technical skills in today’s workforce.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS BELOW

High School Senior Scholarships

Current College Student Scholarship

Our money is raised in several different ways