Rotary celebrates 100 years with scholarships

An extra $30,000 in merit scholarships will be dished out this year.

Elyria Rotary Club announced an expanded scholarship for local college-bound students in celebration of 100 years of service to the community.

The Rotary Club’s scholarship program has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to community-minded students in the past 10 years, according to a news release.

In honor of the Rotary Club’s commitment to “Service Above Self,” this year’s total award amount increased to $50,000 to celebrate being a chartered club since 1918, the release said.

The scholarships are open to Elyria graduating seniors from Elyria High School, Elyria Catholic High, Midview High, Open Door Christian High and First Baptist Christian School.

Applicants will need to have applied for and intend to attend a baccalaureate institution on a fulltime basis for a four-year degree, beginning in the fall of 2018.

Scholarship money will be paid directly to the recipient’s educational institution, the release said.

The privately funded scholarship assists local students who are actively involved in community service and have shown success in academic endeavors.

The club’s annual scholarship of $20,000 for one student, payable at $5,000 per year over a four-year period, will be awarded, according to the release.

However, the additional $30,000 of Exemplary Service Centennial Awards will be awarded through various amounts based on merit, the release said.

The Centennial Awards will be paid as one-time awards for the 2018-19 academic school year and split among a number of scholarship winners, said David Janowicz, chair of the Scholarship Committee.

With sufficient and additional funds available through the Elyria Rotary Club, Janowicz said the group wanted to do something different this year to celebrate the centennial.

“This is huge,” he said. “We want to let schools know that they are eligible and all students have a chance. We are going to have a lot of winners.”

Deadline to apply is April 20. To be considered for the Elyria Rotary Club Scholarship, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Possess a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average through the last grading period.

• Have been accepted or applied for acceptance to a baccalaureate institution.

• Enroll full time at the institution in the fall of 2018.

• Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and remain in good standing at the institution.

• Actively demonstrate “Service Above Self” through involvement in community service, volunteerism and extra-curricular activities.

• Submit two letters of recommendation, from community service/volunteer organization representatives or from teachers, advisors, community members or Rotarians who know the applicant well. Find forms at www.elyriarotary.org/?s=documents.

• File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as FAFSA report.

• Provide additional information and documents as requested in the written application.

Selection of the recipients for the Elyria Rotary Club Scholarships will be made by the representatives of the club’s Grants and Scholarship Committee in early May.

For information, visit www.elyriarotary.org.

Inquiries accepted by email at scholarship@ elyriarotary.com, but application and requested documents must be mailed to the Elyria Rotary Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 627, Elyria OH 44036.

Immediate family members of the Elyria Rotary Club are not eligible.