Rotary Global Scholarship open until March 1

Rotary District 5100 selects one candidate each year to apply to the Global Grant Scholarship program, which provides up to $30,000 of annual support for eligible expenses.

Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus include peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development, and protecting the environment.

“It’s a unique scholarship,” said Tamara Kaufman, the committee’s chair. “It is a high-level study abroad program. The purpose is to immerse the student in another culture while they are enrolled at a foreign university. The selected student will become part of the Rotary family by participating in a club near where they are studying, and be connected to a club here in our Rotary district, which spans northern Oregon and Southwest Washington.”

Candidates must already speak the language in which the coursework will be taught, including the language specific to their area of study. Additionally, candidates must have a letter of admission to the foreign academic institution to begin studies in late summer or early fall of 2026. Their post-education career plan must include a long-term commitment to measurable, sustainable change in their chosen field.

“Our motto is Service Above Self,” Kaufman said. “Our goal is for a Global Scholar to help make a positive difference in the world. We want the recipient to sincerely participate in Rotary International and maintain a lifelong relationship with our organization after the scholarship period.”

A member of the White Salmon-Bingen Rotary Club in Washington, Kaufman said there are many ongoing opportunities for local and international service.

“We have a tremendous network to do good in the world,” she said. “Our club is currently working on an environmental project in Guatemala and a community economic development project in Kenya. These opportunities are in collaboration with our partner clubs here in Rotary District 5100 and Rotary clubs on the ground. We are supporting efforts to improve lives and create lasting change, as we foster enduring relationships with our partner communities.”

Rotarians, individuals related to Rotarians, and Rotary employees are not eligible to apply. However, a candidate may be a member of a Rotaract Club, a global service club network for young leaders ages 18 to 30.

Applications will be reviewed, and eligible candidates will be invited for an interview. The candidate selected by the District 5100 Global Scholars Committee will then work with the group to apply to The Rotary Foundation for the Global Grant.

For more information on this graduate-level scholarship opportunity, go to https://rotarydistrict5100.org/global-scholars/. Interested applicants should email a letter of intent, a copy of their CV or resume, and letters of reference to RD5100GlobalScholars@gmail.com.  The application period closes on March 1, 2026.