2025 Rotary Club of South Puget Sound – Olympia Scholarship Program

Applications Due By Friday, March 28, 2025

The Rotary Club of South Puget Sound – Olympia, is pleased to continue its longstanding tradition of providing scholarships to excellent South Thurston County high school graduates. This year, we will be awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Rochester, Rainier, Tenino and/or Oakville high schools who are planning to attend: a two- or four-year college or university, trade school, specialty school, technical college, community college, or other accredited* institution of higher learning within the United States.

This year, we will be awarding $1,000 and $2,000 individual scholarships. Awards are not limited to one per school, but will be allocated as our Rotary club chooses, based on the quality and completeness of applications. While we place high value on scholastic achievement, we are also seeking to award students who have demonstrated: perseverance, determination and a commitment to service.

The scholarships will be payable directly to the qualified institution of higher learning once Proof of Enrollment is provided. Each scholarship has a sunset provision requiring use within one calendar year of the award date, which is May 9, 2025.

*Accredited colleges in the US meet the standards of the Council for Higher Education Association; specifically, within the Western U.S., through The Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

ABOUT ROTARY:

The Rotary Club of South Puget Sound – Olympia, is part of Rotary International – a federation of service clubs located worldwide. The mission of Rotary International is: to provide service to others, promote integrity; and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise; and in particular, to encourage and foster:

1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
2. High ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business and community life; and
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace, through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Please submit your completed application and ALL required supporting documents (including permission signatures) by Friday, March 28, 2025. All applications and supporting documents must be submitted in an email from your personal email address* (not your school’s email address), with all the forms combined as a single pdf attachment. The email address is: rotaryspsscholarship@gmail.com.

*Exception: your official transcript must be emailed or mailed directly from your high school counselor, or registrar.

PLEASE NOTE: All information (including financial status and transcripts) you submit as part of your application, will be shared with the members of the scholarship award selection committee.

Recipients MUST BE ENROLLED in their institutions in the Fall of 2024 Semester. Recipients will be invited to the May 9, 2025 Rotary Club meeting. This invitation is extended to: faculty and family support. Recipients will be prepared to share a few words with our Rotary Club. Meeting meal for recipients and guests will be provided at no charge.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• 30% Community Service Activity(evaluation based on letter(s) of recommendation and community service verification form(s), including explanation of involvement)
• 20% Financial Need (evaluation based on information provided on completed Financial Information Form)
• 20% Scholastic Achievement (evaluation based on transcripts, including GPA and strength of schedule)
• 20% Quality of Application Essay (evaluation based on content, eloquence, organization and grammar)
• 10% Other Factors (including: reported employment/work experience, sports, clubs, leadership, or other school-related activities).

IMPORTANT DATES:

• January 10, 2025 – Application process opens.
• March 28, 2025 – Applications and all supporting materials are due, including transcripts and financial statements.
• April 28, 2025 – Scholarships recipients are notified.
• May 9, 2025 – Scholarship recipients must attend the May 9, 2025 meeting of the Rotary Club of South Puget Sound – Olympia, to share their education and career plans with the members of the club. (Exceptions may be granted by the club).
• August 2025 – Scholarship funds will be sent to student’s respective school.