The Jacksonville Rotary Club is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted through March 24, 2017, for two scholarship programs.
According to Scholarship Committee Chair Steve Holt, “The Club offers two categories of scholarships for local students, Senior Scholarships and the Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert Memorial Scholarship.”
To be considered for the $2,000 Senior Scholarship award, an eligible student must be a resident of the legally defined boundaries of Jacksonville School District 117, and be a senior expecting to graduate in May or June 2017 with plans to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. Students may have attended a public or private school within the district boundaries.
Jacksonville Rotary Club President Nancy Thorsen said, “Application scoring is weighted towards community service and leadership activities. If the applicant can document hours of community service and/or church service, and can easily express their scholastic goals, they will be competitive for this scholarship.”
The Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert Memorial Scholarship is dedicated in honor of Weikert, who was a graduate of Jacksonville High School (JHS) and was mortally wounded while serving his country in Afghanistan in 2010. This second category of scholarships is open to JHS Seniors and adults who graduated from JHS, who will be attending vocational school, technical school or community college.
To be considered for the Weikert scholarhip, an eligible student must be a resident of the legally defined boundaries of Jacksonville School District 117 (current JHS students), or a resident of the State of Illinois (past JHS graduates). If a current JHS senior, the applicant must expect to graduate in May or June 2017 and plan to attend a vocational school, technical school or community college in 2017. If a past JHS graduate, the applicant must plan to attend a vocational school, technical school or community college in 2017. “Please note that the Weikert scholarship is not for a four-year degree program,” said Holt.
Both scholarships, which will be paid directly to the awardee’s selected school of higher education, may be used toward tuition and/or school supplies including books. Children of Rotarians are not eligible to apply for either scholarship.
Applications for both scholarships are due March 24, 2017. Application forms and additional information can be found at http://jacksonvillerotary.org/scholarships/. For any questions regarding the scholarships or the application process, please contact Holt at 479.619.7358.
Rotary is an international organization that does charitable and service work both locally and throughout the world. Rotary unites people from all continents, cultures, and occupations—it’s truly one of our greatest strengths. Our members are leaders in their fields and communities. Our diverse perspectives help us to see problems differently—and help us solve them in communities throughout the world.