Scholarships from local clubs and service groups
Service clubs and civic groups in many towns set aside money each year for local students. Here you can see how a chapter raises and awards that money, what its committee tends to look for and how to find awards that are rarely posted online.
Where a club's money comes from
A local chapter of a service club such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis or Optimist usually funds its scholarship from dues, pancake breakfasts, raffles and other events held through the year. Some chapters also keep a small endowment or a fund named for a past member. Because the amount depends on what the chapter raised, the number and size of awards can change from one year to the next.
Veterans posts, women's clubs, garden clubs, chambers of commerce and volunteer fire companies run similar awards. Each one is governed by its own members, who vote on the rules and choose the winners. A national headquarters may offer separate contests, but the local award is decided in the town.
What the committee looks at
Club committees are usually volunteers who live nearby, and they often weigh community service, leadership in school and the student's ties to the town. Many ask for a one-page form, a short essay on a theme the club picks and a letter from a teacher or employer. Some invite finalists to a brief interview at a weekly meeting.
Treat an interview as a conversation with neighbors who want to know what you plan to study and why. Bring a copy of your application, talk about service you actually did and thank the members in writing afterward. Some clubs also ask winners to attend a lunch and say a few words, which is part of how the club keeps its donors involved.
Each one is governed by its own members, who vote on the rules and choose the winners.
Finding awards that stay offline
Many local clubs share their forms only through the high school counseling office or through their own members. Ask your counselor for the list of local awards, check the bulletin board at the public library and read the community page of the local paper in early spring. Parents, grandparents and employers may belong to a club and can ask the members directly.
Deadlines tend to fall between February and April for graduating seniors, and a few clubs also take applications from current college students who grew up in the area. Write each club's deadline, contact name and required papers in one place so that nothing slips. When an award is paid, the club usually sends it to your college, and the aid office needs to hear about it.
Steps to take this week
- Ask your counselor for the list of local club awards
- Check the library bulletin board and the local paper
- Ask relatives whether they belong to a service club
- Write down each club's deadline and contact name
Who decides
The scholarship chair of the local club or chapter
A club award is decided by local members, so a clear form, real service and a thank-you note carry weight.
