S C H O L A R S H I P S

Since 1991, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club Foundation has been offering scholarships to students who are at risk for not graduating from high school. These students have significant family circumstances that are not within their control to manage. High school graduation is considered essential for long-term success and independence. The Foundation believes that the best way to help students who are at risk for not graduating from high school is to intercede on their behalf and provide them the support and encouragement necessary to empower them to take charge of their destiny, beginning with completion of high school. To that purpose, the Foundation was established by the Santee Lakeside Rotary Club to raise the funds needed to provide incentives to students that will motivate them to graduate. The incentive is a two-year scholarship to a college or to an accredited business/trade school of their choice if they graduate on time and with their class.  Funding will be set at the community college fee level.

Students enter into contracts with the Foundation, agreeing to maintain good citizenship, remain drug and alcohol free, complete twenty hours of community service per school year and participate in a mentorship program. The mentorship program involves Rotarians themselves. Rotarians are assigned students they are to mentor. The level in which this mentorship is delivered is personalized and geared towards the strength of the Rotarian and the needs of the students. Rotarians provide support and guidance and can advocate for tutoring funds from the Foundation should the student need it. There are group gatherings with all the students on an annual basis where students share with Rotarians how the program is changing their lives. Students direct a portion of their required community hours to projects directly tied to Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club’s service projects.

Students are nominated by staff at the three high schools within the Santee Lakeside Rotary Club’s service area - Santana High School, West Hills High School and El Capitan High School. The Foundation selects an interview panel of approximately three Rotarians who interview the nominated students and select winners based upon their desire to graduate and to do the work required by the program. The number of students selected relies solely on the available funding to support the program.

To ensure the program runs efficiently, The Foundation hired a part-time coordinator to be the liaison between the schools, families, scholars and the Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation has a duly appointed treasurer who maintains the accounting system and records and who regularly provides reports on the financial health of the fund to support the Foundation’s commitment to provide scholarships on an ongoing basis.