Rotary Scholarship Applications

• Service Above Self
• Merit
• Bigelow

When I first started volunteering through National Charity League in sixth grade, I was too young to fully understand the necessity of doing acts of service for those who needed it. But now, as a senior looking back on all of my volunteer experiences, I see the true value in what I have done over the years. Community service has become a key part of who I am and has continued to bring me multitudes of joy over the course of my middle school and high school career.

I believe I qualify for the Service Above Self Scholarship because of my long-time dedication to community service through NCL, NHS, Key Club, and through my high school dance team. A key example of my devotion to service is the Winter Coat and Blanket drive I have led for the past four years. Together, my friend and I collected, washed, organized, and dropped off hundreds of donations to Northwest Children’s Outreach. It was a lot of work, especially during the hard winter months that were filled with my various commitments to the dance team, the class office, and schoolwork. Nonetheless, it fills my heart with joy year after year to know that those in need of warm winter items are being provided with them because of my help. It is truly so rewarding, and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything else.

Another great example of my commitment to volunteering is through my contributions to my high school dance team’s “adopt-a-family” service event. Every girl on the team pitches in gifts to give to a family in need during the holiday season. I helped provide gifts, wrap them, and deliver them to the family. Seeing the pure delight on the faces of these families throughout all four years that I took part in this is heartwarming. It demonstrates my love for service and my dedication to helping others.

Receiving this scholarship would not only help me further my education, but also help affirm the values that have shaped me into the person I am. I’m grateful for the opportunity to apply, and I’m committed to continuing a life of service, one act at a time.

When I think about resilience, I think about the moment I didn’t win. During my junior year, I poured my heart into running for ASB. I spent weeks preparing my speech, designing posters, and pushing past my fear of public failure. But when the results were announced, my name wasn’t called. It stung more than I expected. Not just because I lost, but because I had really believed I could lead and make a difference. For a while, I questioned whether I should even try again.

But that’s where my resilience stepped in. Instead of letting that experience stop me, I chose to learn from it. I reflected on how I could grow, stayed involved in school activities, and in the following months, I ran for senior class office. This time, I was successfully elected as one of six senior class officers. That moment didn’t just feel like a victory. It felt like proof that perseverance matters more than a perfect track record.

That lesson carried into other areas of my life too. I’d always loved to sing, but the idea of auditioning for my school’s advanced A Cappella Choir felt daunting, especially after the emotional weight of the ASB election loss. Still, I reminded myself that growth only comes when you try again, even when failure feels fresh. I auditioned. And this time, I made it. Facing rejection, choosing to try again, and eventually succeeding taught me that resilience isn’t about always winning. It’s about not letting a single “no” define you. It’s shown me how to move forward with humility, courage, and optimism.

Through it all, I’ve continued to challenge myself academically, taking six AP classes and earning membership in the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. I’ve stayed active in leadership and service through my role in senior class office, my two years as president of my NCL (National Charity League) chapter, and as senior captain of my school’s dance team. Each of these roles came with their own pressures and lessons, but I’ve carried the same mindset through all of them: even when things don’t go according to plan, I won’t give up on what matters to me.

Being considered for the Bigelow Memorial Scholarship is an honor in itself. I feel that I've built my resilience through hard decisions to keep going when things are difficult. Obtaining this scholarship would not only recognize that feat, but help me continue to be resilient and try new things throughout my college experience.

I applied to thirteen different schools ranging all around the country. I have decided to attend Santa Clara University in the fall, in Northern California.

I have only received a small amount of merit from the school, and after appealing my amount, I was denied. The merit I have received barely makes a dent on my tuition, food, and housing costs. I am having to take on a substantial loan for this education, so any amount of merit from this scholarship would greatly aid my college journey.