Spirit of St. Louis County Rotary Club Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by St. Louis County Rotary Club

Introduction
The Spirit of St. Louis County Rotary Club provides scholarships based on an applicant’s need and commitment to their chosen field of study. Awards are intended to support students who will pursue further education after high school.

Eligibility
To be considered for a Spirit of St. Louis County Rotary Club Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be enrolled at Pattonville, Parkway North, or attend a private/parochial school located in the communities primarily served by the Spirit of St. Louis County Rotary Club (Bridgeton, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Overland, St. Ann, St. John, or Westport). In addition to attending school in one of these communities, the student must live in one of these communities.
- Expect to graduate from high school in the Spring of 2025.
- Intend to enroll in an accredited post‑secondary program leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree, a technical degree, or a certificate.
- Complete the online application at My Scholarship Central (myscholarshipcentral.org).
- Demonstrate substantial financial need as shown by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or comparable need-assessment methods.
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher or a current/past work supervisor.

Application process and required materials
- Submit the online application via My Scholarship Central (myscholarshipcentral.org) by the stated deadline. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
- Upload a copy of your 2025–2026 FAFSA Submission Summary.
- If you receive an official financial aid award letter from the school you plan to attend before the application deadline, upload that award letter as well.
- On the application, supply the name and email address of a teacher, counselor, advisor, supervisor, or other qualified individual who will complete an online recommendation via Scholarship Central. It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify that person to expect the recommendation request email.

Selection process
A committee composed of Spirit of St. Louis County Rotarians will screen all complete applications. Selection may consider, but is not limited to:
- Demonstrated financial need
- Academic performance, school attendance, and involvement in extracurricular activities
- Employment history, community service, and volunteer work
- Quality and completeness of answers to supplemental questions
- Special consideration may be given to applicants pursuing technical degrees

Applicants who advance to the final round will be invited to an interview conducted by the Rotary committee.

Supplemental questions (to be answered in the application)
1. High school activities (for each entry provide: activity, years participated, office held/award/letter/recognition).
2. Community activities (church, scouting, volunteer organizations, etc.; for each: activity, years, office/award/recognition).
3. Service activities completed through school organizations (e.g., NHS, student council, leadership groups; list activity and years).
4. Employment history (for each job provide: employer, employer address, position, hours per week, start and end dates).
5. Where do you plan to continue your education?
6. Have you applied for admission to that institution(s)?
7. Have you been accepted?
8. What are your professional or vocational goals?
9. Why do you want to continue your education after high school?
10. How do you plan to finance your college/technical school education?
11. Provide any additional financial information that will help the committee evaluate need (for example: high family medical expenses, supporting relatives, a parent nearing retirement, etc.).
12. Upload your 2025–2026 FAFSA Submission Summary.
13. Upload any financial aid award letter you receive before the application deadline.
14. Scholarship Central recommendation: enter the name and email of the person who will submit a recommendation on your behalf (teacher, counselor, supervisor, etc.). You must notify that person to watch for the email with recommendation instructions.
15. Describe any experience you already have in your chosen field or program.
16. Explain how receiving this scholarship would benefit you.
17. Describe personal challenges you faced during high school and how you addressed or overcame them.
18. Share any other information you believe would help the committee better understand you and your suitability for this scholarship.
19. Provide your weighted cumulative GPA after seven semesters of high school.
20. Explain any missing or incomplete information on your application.

Applicant declaration
By entering your full name in the signature field of the application, you authorize the Spirit of St. Louis County Rotary Club Scholarship and its representatives to review, verify, and discuss any of your academic and financial records or other information relevant to this application. You affirm that all statements are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge, that your essays and responses are your own work, and that the Scholarship Committee will rely on the honesty and completeness of your application when making decisions.