SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Since its inception, the Vernon Silver Star Rotary Club has run a scholarship program with School District #22 to award financial support to deserving high-school graduates attending post-secondary institutions. These scholarships are given annually on the basis of three criteria:
- financial need,
- academic excellence, and
- community and/or school involvement
The scholarship winners are chosen by a committee of club members who meet to go over applications submitted by the students.
In 1993, the club - in cooperation with the Community Foundation of the North Okanagan – went one step further and created the Silver Star Rotary Club Education Endowment Fund with an initial investment of $30,000. This money provides the annual distributions that fund the scholarship program. Each year the club contributes money to increase the Education Endowment Fund from routine fund-raising efforts such as the Vernon Vipers’ 50/50 proceeds and with individual members being encouraged to personally donate as well.
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Scholarship Endowment Fund Balance: $177,965 (as of Sept 2025)
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Current Year’s Scholarship Distribution
For the current year the program will award the following:
- Total Distribution Target: $13,200 based on:
- 6 scholarships of $2,000, one for each of the 5 secondary schools in the North Okanagan plus a district wide scholarship of $2,000 for a graduating trade/technology student. Two $600 awards are given out. A district wide Indigenous award and a Alternate Education Program's award.
- Club members are also assigned the task of handing out the scholarships and special needs awards personally by attending the graduation ceremonies of each school in May and June. Club members select the winners and also write congratulatory cards to our student winners with the students being invited to come to our club to talk about their post-secondary plans.
It is with great pride that the Vernon Silver Star Rotary Club provides its scholarships and awards to the community, and that club members remain involved so personally in awarding them. We hope to continue to expand both the size and # of scholarships we award each year based on our success in fund-raising.
