SIDNEY — Four 2022 Shelby County graduating seniors have the opportunity to obtain a $1,000 scholarship from The Rotary Club of Sidney.

Up for grabs are three traditional path and one workforce development program scholarships. Awards will be made only to accredited programs.

The Sidney Rotary Scholarship opportunity is available to all Shelby County students with at least a 2.5 GPA. The Rotarian Scholarship Committee will consider financial need, involvement in the community and at school, leadership, academics, and “service above self,” which is a pillar of Rotary.

“We are offering four scholarships to any student from Shelby County. Now, the students can be going to any school in Shelby County of the JVS. Through the Rotary Scholarship program, we are really looking at making sure at least one of the scholarships goes to what we call a non-traditional path. And by that, what we mean is, if one of the students here in Shelby County that really wants to get into tool and die or wants to be a welder, or take something you would consider a non-traditional college, we are looking at trying to fund that because we have a lot of organizations and businesses here in Shelby County that need these type of professional labor,” said Will Balling, Rotary Scholarship chairman/Sidney Police chief. “They need these young men and women that is able to join their field here in Shelby County. So, we really do want to support that.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think enough (non-traditional path) students know about (the scholarship opportunity), because we get very few applications from the non-traditional, and we really want to increase that.” Balling continued. “Again, when you look around Shelby County, we got so many types of businesses that rely upon these type of individuals in the workplace.”

Applicants must submit the scholarship application, their transcript, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and a one-page essay that gives examples of how the student’s life has demonstrated Rotary’s core pillar of “service above self.”

“It’s not all based on academics. We really do value service to others with this process and the points that are needed, because we are a service organization,” Balling said. “So, we want to see those kids that apply to have involvement within the community. What are they giving back to the community? What is there leadership within the community? What programs have they taken the initiative to help start or be leaders within their group? So, we weigh different things; it’s definitely not just all based on your grade point average or your ACT scores. We wanted to make sure most students could apply for the scholarship. We really want students that are well-rounded and are involved in the community and leadership.”

The deadline to submit an application is March 6, 2022.

Students should submit their application, and other requirements directly to Balling either to his email at [email protected] or by dropping it off at the Sidney Police Department, 234 W. Poplar St. Scholarship applications will then be reviewed by the Rotarian Scholarship Committee. If chosen as one of the finalist, the student will be contacted the week of March 23 and asked to interview on April 15, tentatively. Students will be notified by May 13 if they have been awarded the scholarship.

To apply, visit the Rotary Club’s website at http://www.sidneyrotaryclub.org/?p=stories&storyid=161420