Each year, the Branford Rotary Club awards $19,000 in higher education scholarships to Branford residents. High school seniors looking to enter college are eligible for $12,000 in scholarships for college, while older, nontraditional students are eligible for our 'Resilient Scholarships,' given to older students attending CT State College - Gateway.
Applications for Gateway are done through the school. The application for high school seniors is available HERE.
Applications for high schoolers are due June 12, 2025.
To win a Resilient Scholarship, nontraditional students must be Branford residents age 26 and older, and enrolled at Gateway in either a degree or certificate program. Rotary gives $7,000 per year to Gateway for these 'Resilient Scholarships,' funds distributed to a minimum of five students, who must apply through Gateway.
At the high school level, three $1,000 Scholarships are awarded to Branford High School students, chosen by Branford High School administrators. One of these three is designated for, and will be awarded to, an Interact Student.
Three additional Rotary "Service Above Self" Scholarships, chosen by Rotarians, are awarded to any Branford residents who are high school seniors, whether they attend Branford High or another area secondary school. Each of the 'Service Above Self' Scholarships is $3,000.
To be eligible, students must enroll in a 2- or 4-year college or technical school. Students should also exhibit outstanding evidence of:
- Academic achievement
- Clear goals
- Participation in community service
- Adherence to Rotary "Service Above Self" values.
Financial need is not a requirement, but a statement of need is welcome.
The written portion of the scholarship application requires an official high school transcript with seal, either SAT/ACT scores, a teacher reference, documentation of community service experience, and a student-written essay focusing on how the applicant’s future will incorporate the Rotary theme of 'Service Above Self.' Upon receiving the scholarship, students must provide a copy of the acceptance from a post secondary school.
When available, applications for scholarships are available HERE or at the Branford High School guidance office.
For more information, email: [email protected]
You may also mail it to:
Branford Rotary Club
PO Box 593
Branford, CT 06405
2020 ROTARY SCHOLARS
The Branford Rotary Club is proud to announce that three recent graduates of Branford High School have been awarded $6,000 in “Service Above Self” scholarships for 2020.
STUDENT-OF-THE-MONTH
In addition to scholarships, every month during the school year, the Branford Rotary honors a Student-of-the-Month from Branford High School. These impressive students, chosen by their teachers, are presented with their awards at a Rotary breakfast, where they address the club.
BEYOND BRANFORD
Every year, around the world, Rotary Clubs give an average of $7.5 million in scholarships. Rotary International, our parent organization, also sponsors Rotary Peace Fellowships – scholarships for post-graduate study awarded to students and professionals to purse careers in peace-building and conflict resolution. Branford resident Kate Lonergan was recently awarded a Peace Fellowship and is now pursuing her doctorate in conflict research. She attends Uppsala University, in Sweden, paid for by Rotary.
