SARATOGA SPRINGS ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS

 

Together the ROTARY CLUB of SARATOGA SPRINGS and the SARATOGA SPRINGS ROTARY EDUCATION FOUNDATION have created a Legacy of Impact in awarding scholarships to Saratoga-area students.

  • $101,000 awarded in scholarships in 2025 to 18 Saratoga-area students.
  • Awards ranged from $2,500 to $20,000 each helping students overcome financial barriers and access the education they need to succeed.

Applicants need not have perfect credentials to be competitive candidates. In awarding scholarships, we are seeking students with potential to do well academically, to thrive in the world of work, and to be of service to their communities in the Rotary tradition of valuing Service above Self.  And, we seek to make awards to students for whom scholarship funds will have the greatest impact.

**All Applications must be submitted no later than April 1**

 

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for a Saratoga Springs Rotary Club Scholarship an applicant must:

  • Be a high school senior living in the Saratoga Springs City School District; OR
  • Be a high school senior graduating from any public or private high school within the geographical boundaries of the Saratoga Springs City School District, or a person who lives within the school district who is completing a high school equivalency credential; AND
  • Plan to pursue a degree or certification program at an accredited 2- or 4-year college or a vocational educational institution.
SELECTION CRITERIA

Applications are evaluated based on a combination of the following criteria:

  • Financial Need
  • Community Service
  • Extracurricular and Work Activities
  • Academic Record and Potential for Growth
  • Some scholarships are specific to a particular area of study, such as, architecture, culinary arts, graphic arts and computer science, hospitality, law, performing arts, and finance.
IMPORTANT NOTES

The committee reserves the right to not review incomplete applications

All selection decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. Applications and supporting documents become the sole property of the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs and cannot be returned. We regret that we can only notify finalists of their award status.

The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs and the Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation, Inc. reserve the unqualified right and discretion to withhold some or all of an award and/or delay an award due to insufficient academic performance, as determined by the Foundation and Rotary Club.

IMPORTANT DATES to REMEMBER
  • APRIL 1st Deadline for completed application submission
  • MAY Finalists will be invited to a personal interview with the Scholarship Committee
  • JUNE Scholarship recipients are invited to attend the Rotary Education Foundation Dinner where
    Scholarship Awards will be announced
APPLICATION CHECKLIST-All items are required
  1. Rotary Scholarship Application Form
  2. Description/List of Activities and Accomplishments. Please upload a Word document. List up to 5 applicable activities/accomplishments in each of the following categories. List those most important to you first.
    1. Community Service – Describe any social service or volunteer experience you have had, and the amount of time spent on such experience.
    2. Work Experience – Describe any jobs held during your high school career and the number of hours per week spent at work.
    3. Extracurricular Activities – Describe extracurricular or out-of-school activities you have been involved in, how long you have been involved in each, and how much time you spend on each in a typical week (please choose a maximum of 5 music, sports, student clubs, or other organizations).
  3. Essay – Your application should include a short original essay of no more than 250 words on the following topic: Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Describe how you have demonstrated commitment to this ideal.
  4. FAFSA SAR results (the full FAFSA form is not needed)
  5. Financial Aid Award Letters from College(s)
  6. Copy of High School or High School Equivalency Transcript

** Please combine items 4, 5, and 6 into a single PDF when uploaded.

ABOUT ROTARY

Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 34,000 Rotary clubs located around the globe. The Rotary Motto is “Service Above Self.” Local Rotary clubs develop service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.

Since its founding in 1924, The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs has served the local community in many ways. In addition to engaging in service activities, the club has made charitable donations and major gifts to numerous not-for-profit organizations in the area, such as The Children’s Museum at Saratoga, YMCA, Yaddo, Franklin Community Center, Saratoga EOC, Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Center for the Family, and Saratoga Arts, to name just a few. The Club’s annual Home & Lifestyle Show has been its major fundraising activity since 1973. Proceeds from this event support the Club’s donations to local organizations, youth scholarships, and international activities. More information about the club is available at Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs

In 1997 the Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs formed The Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation, a separately governed tax-exempt 501c3 organization, with the vision of a Saratoga community where every student, regardless of financial barriers, has access to transformative post-secondary educational opportunities that enable them to reach their fullest potential and contribute to society.  Funds raised by the Foundation through donations, grants, fundraising and investment management supplement income from the Rotary’s annual Home & Lifestyle Show and support the mission of the Foundation: Investing in the potential of students through scholarships empowering them to pursue post-secondary education and enriching the Saratoga Community.

When you click “Save and Continue Later,” you will be provided with a unique link to return to your application. You also have the ability to email that link to yourself.