The Rotary Club of Vancouver continues its support of Gladstone Secondary school students with funding towards their post-secondary education. Award letters were delivered to five talented students this week with the news that the Rotary Club of Vancouver has funded scholarships totaling $21,500. Funding for awards during the pandemic was increased by $7,500. Two students received awards of $7,000 each and three students each received awards of $2,500. The program is designed to motivate grade 11 students who have demonstrated excellent “citizenship” and the talent to go forward with post-secondary education, but who may lack the financial resources to achieve this goal.
The students apply for the Rotary Stay in School scholarships during their Grade 11 year through their school counselor. The awards are normally announced in the spring of their Grade 11 year but due to the Covid Pandemic the awards were delayed until December this year, Principal Chris Parker and school counselor Lisa Pacheco delivered the awards to the students and reported that the reactions from the students, “.. vary from shock to uncontrollable tears but all are the result of a great happiness and joy and emotion to have the support and belief of people in them to succeed.” Hearing these words and knowing that our club has made a difference in the lives of these young people is incredibly heartwarming and motivates us to continue this project into the future.
These awards are made possible from the financial resources of the Vancouver Rotary Club Foundation, which has contributed over $230,000 to this program since 2006.
The Rotary Club of Vancouver,( chartered in 1913) undertakes many programs locally to help deserving youth achieve their full potential. In addition to the Stay in School awards, other programs include leadership training retreats; volunteer one on one reading with primary school students; international youth exchanges; funding emergency food to elementary schools and agencies. During the Covid pandemic, the club has provided emergency funding to help schools acquire iPads for remote learning and warm clothing to permit outdoor school activities.
The Rotary Club of Vancouver is one of 35,000 clubs worldwide, and its members are part of the more than 1.2 million members worldwide loving by the Rotary motto of Service above Self.
