Outbounds

Shoemaker Scholarship Application

  • Contact your District Representative for the applicaiton

Eligibility:

Applicant must be sponsored by a member district of the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program, Inc.

A recipient cannot be a Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, employee of Rotary nor a member of their family (spouse, lineal descendant or spouse of a lineal descendant), nor anyone who was a member of that group at any time during the 36 months preceding the awarding of the scholarship. Applicant must demonstrate severe economic hardship.

Application:

Students who choose to apply for the “Robert W. Shoemaker Jr. Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship” shall submit the following:

Complete the scholarship application (a copy is included at the end of this section) and forward it to their District Chair.

Personal essay describing- Why they are going, how they see their role as an ambassador for the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, what their exchange means to them personally, their personal and professional goals in life, why they believe the scholarship would help i.e how they will use the money, why we should consider the student for the scholarship.

Letter from parent describing their support for their son’s/daughter’s decision to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student and the need for economic assistance. Supporting data that should be provided that further defines economic need would include: Gross income as reported on the tax return, number of family members, what extraordinary circumstances make this need. How will the exchange impact their financial future.

Letter from sponsor Rotary Club President/YEO defining their support for the scholarship request.

Award:

Amount of award will vary depending on availability of funds (actual amount of total award to be determined by the Central States Treasurer), the Scholarship Committee shall have the latitude to determine the distribution of funds among the successful candidates. Award of scholarship and the amount of the scholarship shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Scholarship Committee.

Award Match:

It is strongly suggested that the Sponsor Rotary Club and or District match up to the amount awarded by the Robert W. Shoemaker Jr. Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship.

Number:

Number of awards will vary depending on availability of funds.

Special Provisions:

In the event the original purpose stated here is no longer appropriate, practical or possible, the funds in the scholarship will be transferred to the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange, Inc. treasury. The Board of Directors can change the provisions and procedures of the Scholarship by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

Application Deadline:

Scholarship applications and supporting information shall be received by the Chairman of Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program, Inc. by 15 March of each year.

Selection and Disbursement:

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of six (6) judges. The judges will be composed of District Chairs, Central States Correspondents, and Central States Staff. Central States Officers will only be involved in the selection process in the event that a selection of five judges cannot be made from the preceding. The six judges will be selected so that they do not represent the applicants’ Central States District or country they will be exchanging to. The sole basis of the judges’ decision will be based on content of the materials presented. The decision of the judges will be final and not subject to appeal.
The selection Committee will be appointed by the Chairman of Central States and will deliberate their decision by use of e-mail. Copies of the correspondence shall be submitted to the Treasurer with the final report. If necessary, a teleconference will be held, if a teleconference is held minutes of the discussion will be kept and forwarded to the Treasurer.
The Treasurer will be responsible for issuing payment to the student through the appropriate District Chair. One-half of the award shall be disbursed prior to student departure. The remaining fifty-percent shall be disbursed 6 months after the student departure. Student must be in good standing with Host and Sponsor clubs and Districts as defined by the Robert W. Shoemaker Jr. Rotary Youth Exchange award committee.

Reporting Process:

The Chair of the Selection Committee shall notify the Chair of Central States and forward to the Central States Treasurer a brief report that will include a copy of the student’s scholarship application, the amount of the award and an identification of how the funds will be utilized by the student.

Announcement of Award:

The announcement of the award to the District Chairs, Central States Officers and Staff shall be made by the Chair of Central States. The District

Rotary Youth Exchange logo