Milford Rotary Club to offer 7 scholarships, 2 renewals

Previous Rotary scholarship winners (Photo courtesy of Milford Rotary Club)

The Milford Rotary Club Educational Foundation will offer seven scholarships to 2024 high school students in the greater Milford area, and two scholarship renewals.

New this year is a $2,500 scholarship for a student studying for a job in the trades.

“We recognize that community college offers trade education, but they do not cover all the costs,” said Jim O’Neil, the foundation’s co-coordinator. “We felt this $2,500 supplement would be a nice supplement.”

It will be named the Donovan Trade Training Scholarship, after business owner and longtime Rotarian Jack Donovan.

Another change to the scholarships offered is that applications can now be completed online rather than requiring applicants to download forms, fill them out and mail them in.

Foundation Coordinator Robin Sirkis was instrumental in making this change so it’s easier for students to apply.

The club will be offering $21,500 in scholarships in 2024.

That will include six $2,500 scholarships and renewing two $2,000 scholarships.

They include:

• A Rotary Traditional scholarship

• A Rotary Interact Scholarship.

• A Rotary Service Above Self Scholarship

• A Rotary Preserverance Scholarship

• A Rotary Warnell Scholarship, named for the late Joseph Warnell, a longtime Rotarian, chemist and former business owner.

• The Dr. William Warren Scholarship, in memory of the late Dr. Warren, a longtime foundation trustee.

In addition, the renewals will be for the Garbutt Family Trust Scholarship, valued at $2,000 each, and named in honor of the late Thomas Garbutt, his wife, Marie, and daughter, Gail.

Funding for the scholarships comes from sponsors for the Rotary Flags of Heroes fundraiser and donations from Rotary members.

All scholarship applications are judged on the criteria of the student’s leadership, character and citizenship, academic achievement and the quality of an original essay but each scholarship may have additional specific requirements.

All scholarship applicants must reside in the service area of the Milford Rotary Club, which includes all of the Milford School District.

Graduating seniors in public, charter, parochial or private schools or home-schooled seniors must submit applications by April 20, 2024.

Children and grandchildren of Milford Rotary Club members are not eligible.

Applications are now available at www.milfordrotaryclub.com.  For  questions about the website applications, contact Robin Sirkis at [email protected]