District Vocational Scholarship

How It Works:

District 5870 has allocated (7) seven $5,000 CTE scholarships funded entirely by the District Grant, to support students pursuing career-focused education and training. These scholarships are designed for students entering skilled trades, technical programs, or professional fields such as engineering, healthcare, accounting, law, and more—without requiring a four-year degree and are not intended for students planning to transfer credits to a four-year institution.

The grants are funded through member contributions to Annual Fund-SHARE, returned to our District to use three years later.  Upon their return, District 5870 designates a portion of the funds for club sponsored Career & Technical Education students. All district clubs are eligible to submit an application for a club sponsored candidate to receive Rotary Foundation funding upon meeting all qualification requirements.

Rotary Grant Qualification Requirements

To qualify to receive funding for District awarded CTE Scholarships, clubs must:

✅ Attend Grant Management Training Seminar (GMTS)

Both the President-Elect & at least one additional club member must attend.
✅ Submit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) fillable form
✅ Provide a copy of the club’s IRS Form 990
✅ Enter Annual Fund & Polio Plus Goals in Rotary Club Central
✅ Ensure District & Rotary International dues are paid
✅ Have no overdue grant reports

Application Process

You are expected to read the handbook before finding a scholar; it contains important information you will need to: navigate the selection process, propose a scholarship candidate, and (if your candidate is successful) receive the funds from District 5870.

✅ Club conducts internal candidate selection process - September 15 - April 1

✅ Club requests access to online application via Club Endorsement Form

Deadline to submit: April 1 

✅Upon verifying club has completed/submitted: (1) Grant Management Training (GMTS), (2) MOU and (3) 990 on (Public) Club Qualification Tracking WorkSheet and emails CTE Coordinator emails Club the Candidate Scholarship Application link ✅Online application (along with required supporting documents) is submitted Deadline to submit: April 12

✅Club receives notification of individual interview time and zoom link to be held April 26, 2025

✅CTES Coordinator informs students and sponsors of selection or non-selection of scholarship  

✅Awarded Scholarship Recipients submit required Acceptance Form\

✅Upon approval by Rotary International and fulfillment of ALL qualification requirements; club will receive funding 

✅Club Submits Final Report and receipts. Deadline to submit: June 15, 2026

Sponsoring clubs are expected to contribute at least another $250 towards the student’s expenses and can, if they desire, increase this amount to cover project costs. 

The Forms section in the sidebar contains three important documents:

• A sample CTES Application for download and review by Clubs and applicants. NOTE: Hardcopy applications will not be accepted. After clubs select their candidates, they must request a link to the online application from the District 5870 CTES Chair.

• The link for the online RY 2024-25 CTES Club Endorsement for clubs sponsoring a CTES candidate. This form will not be open to receive responses until after 1 January 2025.

• The link for the RY 2024-25 CTES acceptance for candidates selected for a scholarship. This form will not be open to receive responses until after the April 27, 2025 District CTES interviews.

The download section of this page also has three very important documents:

• 2025-26 CTES Handbook. START HERE
• 2025-26 CTES slide show
• Final Report Form

Questions?

2024-25 District CTES Coordinator - Tina Ady Incoming 5870CTES@gmail.com

2025-28 District CTES Coordinator – Pat Satterwhite 5870CTES@gmail.com

Grants Subcommittee Chair, Ellison Crider ellisoncrider@gmail.com

District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, Shannon Coleman shannoncolemanrotary@gmail.com