Rotary Club of Fort Collins Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Fort Collins presents awards to students who have demonstrated the scholarship necessary to succeed in post-secondary educational or vocational programs.
Any high school senior in Poudre School District that meets the criteria* below is eligible to apply for our scholarships.
Awards are given to seniors who have committed to attending the Fort Collins campus of Colorado State University or the Larimer campus of Front Range Community College. Ten to twelve scholarships are awarded each year. Many of these are named scholarships with various additional selection criteria as defined by the named scholarship: the James Morrison Memorial Scholarship, the Richard W. Schump Memorial Scholarship, the Judge John David Sullivan Memorial Scholarship, the Plemmons Family Scholarship, the Dr. Yung Hai Chen Memorial Scholarship (2 scholarships: one at Front Range and 1 at CSU), the Jane Welzel Memorial Scholarship, and the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Charities Scholarships (3-4 scholarships).
Application forms are provided by the counseling centers at the various high schools during January-February of each year. Applications must include a FAFSA statement.
Important PSD Scholarship Application Dates:
December thru January - Application Submission Window for PSD Seniors
March thru May - Review of Student Applications, Interviews, and Recipients Selected
Award amounts are $2000-$5000 for one academic year. Half of the award will be given at the beginning of the academic year. The second half will be awarded if, after the first semester, the student has earned at least a 3.0 grade point average. The 3.0 GPA is based on the system where a 4.0 GPA would be earned for straight A’s. Funds are to be deposited in a student account at the institution and may be used for tuition, fees, books, and necessary supplies or equipment. If a recipient withdraws from the institution or drops out of the degree or certificate program, unused funds will be returned to the Fort Collins Rotary Club.
Selection will be based on academics, community service, leadership, and need. Finalists are required to submit a paper in which they comment on Rotary’s Four-Way Test of the things we think, say, or do.
Interviews of finalists will be conducted in the spring and the awards announced not later than May 30.
Award recipients will be expected to provide a 3 minute report (in person, if possible) acceptance and thank you speech to the Rotary Club of Fort Collins during the Fall Semester.
For additional information
* Criteria:
● Must be used at CSU or Front Range Community College (Fort Collins Campus only), Students who are not considering these schools should not apply
● Selection based on Academics, Community Volunteering, Work Experience, Extra Curricular activity, Leadership, Work Ethic, Readiness for College, and Financial Need
● Must include your FAFSA statement or Unusual Circumstances Statement
● Counselors at each high school will submit up to 10 senior year candidates to the Rotary selection committee
● Rotary selection committee will choose up to 5 finalists from each school
● Finalists will be individually interviewed by the selection committee via Zoom
● Additional 4-Way Test essay required for finalists. Essay due after selection of finalists but before Zoom interviews