The Penn Valley Rotary Foundation has awarded four promising high school seniors with scholarships of $1,500 each as they prepare to embark on their college education.
The foundation, which is the charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Penn Valley, awards the scholarships each year to students who reside in Penn Valley, Rough & Ready and Smartsville. The scholarships are awarded for a combination of academic merit, extracurricular achievement and needs-based factors.
The inspiring qualities of the finalists during the 2025-26 school year led the board to give the maximum award to each of them.
The foundation selects between two and five seniors each year for scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500.
“These recipients are reviewed and selected based on their financial need, and how they reflect the Rotary Four-Way Test,” said Joyce Feldman, president of the Penn Valley Rotary Club Foundation.
“We also want someone who reflects the Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ “We look for self-starters that we feel confident will do well with our assistance and will be successful in their adult life, with a little help.”
The Four-Way Test guides the actions of Rotarians by asking, “Is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships, and will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
The Rotary Club of Penn Valley is a group of local residents dedicated to community service. It meets every first Tuesday of the month at noon at Players Restaurant and Sports Bar, as well as every third Tuesday at 5:30 pm. To learn more or to join, visit pennvalleyrotary.org.