Scholarships
Global Grant Scholarships
The scholarship is to supplement a student costs to obtain a Masters’ (or Doctorate) at a foreign university of one’s choice (in a city where there is a Rotary Club). Direct relatives of Rotarians may not apply. A Rotary Club may submit only one scholar applicant per year for consideration.
A scholarship amount is a minimum of $30,000, funded by District 5300 and Rotary International. The sponsoring Rotary Club is encouraged to add another $1,000.
A potential scholar’s coursework in high school and college, extra-curricular activities, and career goals, must align with a RI Area of Focus. These Areas are: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water; Saving Mothers and Children; Supporting Education; Growing Local Economies; and Objectives for the Environment.
Scholarships | Rotary International
An interested student must complete the RI Global Grant Scholarship template. This application is to include: transcripts; a resume; and proof of acceptance (conditional or final) from the foreign university of one’s choice. If the latter is still pending, provide some communication that an application to the foreign university has been submitted and is under consideration. Applications are due to the sponsoring Rotary Club by February 28, 2025.
There will be two interviews: one at the Club level (where the Club Board of Directors must approve the candidate); and a second, by the District Global Grant scholar committee.
Candidates will be scheduled for a face to face (preferred) or an on-line interview, by mid-March 2025. This scholarship is subject to final approval of Rotary International.
McMullin Graduate Scholarship
District 5300 also offers post-graduate scholarships to a foreign university of one’s choosing, but specifically for a graduate of the United States Military Academy or Claremont McKenna College.
The J. Carolyn and Joseph B. McMullin Endowed scholarship was created by Joseph McMullin in 2011 with $150,000. Four scholarships have thus far been awarded with the interest generated. Approximately $27,300 is currently available.
McMullin was a member of the Altadena Rotary Club from the late 60s to June, 2000 where he served as President, and as a District Governor (1988-89). He died September 19, 2019, in North Myrtle Beach, SC, at 96 years of age. He was a World War II veteran, and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
For more information about these available scholarships, contact:
- District Global Grant Scholar Committee: Chair William Payne, payne10@gmail.com/ 626.252.9505, or
- District Foundation: Chair Mark Mariscal, markmariscal@yahoo.com / 323.816.6713
- NOTE: Applicants must be endorsed first by a local Rotary Club.
To apply through the Las Vegas Rotary Club, contact club global scholarship chair, Karen Whisenhunt, kwhis@cox.net / 702.296.7984.
Congratulations to Global Scholar Chantay BenShimon currently studying in Israel in the field of International Conflict Resolution and Meditation
Follow Chantay’s Adventure through her Blog
As my graduate program finally comes to a close, I have been thinking quite often about how surreal and formative this experience has been for me.
Although I came to study conflict resolution in an area of active conflict, I did not expect to actually experience it first hand as I did earlier this year during May’s hostilities. Learning about conflict and peacebuilding initiatives on the ground has been an enriching experience which drew me into the field of grassroots organizations that work to promote peace and reduce conflict.
Over the last several months I interned, and subsequently recently began working at an organization called PATHWAYS Institute for Negotiation Education. While I wear several hats, as a Project Officer, I helped to launch a pilot program on October 13th called Game Changers in Education which brings together university students from the United States and unique communities across Israel for an interactive virtual exchange in which they hone their problem-solving skills whilst also developing their intercultural understanding. I believe that education is one of the most powerful, sustainable tools to change the reality on the ground, and I feel beyond grateful that I have been afforded the opportunity to do my small part in helping to facilitate that change. While I get to serve communities in my work, I am hoping to also participate and have a more active role in service projects with my host Rotary club. To be successfully pursuing my dreams with a budding career in the peacebuilding field, and an MA in Conflict Resolution and Mediation (almost) under my belt, is to be living the life I have long dreamed of. I am truly thankful to District 5300, The Las Vegas Rotary Club, and The Rotary Club of Ramat Gan for providing what has been an absolutely life-changing experience for me.
World Peace Scholarships
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Application process
The 2022-23 application will be available in February, 2021. Every year, districts must submit endorsed applications to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July. Review district endorsement instructions.
Follow these steps to ensure that your application receives consideration.
- Review the eligibility restrictions.
- Research the curriculum and programs at each of the Rotary Peace Centers. You will be asked to rank two centers you prefer for the Master’s program and one center for the certificate program.
- Submit your application by 31 May. Applications require a resume, academic and/or professional recommendations, essays, transcripts, social impact plan (certificate only), and test scores (master’s only). All materials must be in English.
- Get endorsed. As part of the application process, you need to connect with a Rotary district and get endorsed. Districts are regionally-based Rotary representatives located throughout the world. You can identify and contact your local Rotary district directly through the application platform. The district will interview you then submit an endorsement decision for your application.
- Engage with Rotary. Use the Club Finder to locate the Rotary club nearest you. Connecting with a club is a great way to learn about Rotary’s work in your community and around the world. Clubs recommendations are optional, but strongly recommended as part of your application.
- Await selection results. Email notifications will be sent in November. If you are chosen for a fellowship, you will be told at which Peace Center you will study.
- Apply for admission to the university where your Peace Center is located. Being selected for the fellowship does not mean you have been admitted to the university.
Eligibility Restrictions
Rotary Peace Fellowships may not be used for doctoral study. The following people are not eligible for the master’s degree program:
- Active Rotary members
- Employees of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
- Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in these categories
- Former Rotary members and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of their resignation)
Recipients of Rotary Global Grants Scholarships must wait three years after completing the scholarship to apply for Rotary Peace Fellowship programs.
For further information, please contact:
Susan Johnson, District Chair, Green Valley Club, loshj-eg@msn.com or 702,496.7302
Dee Matreyek, Rancho Cucamonga Club, deefmat@earthlink.net or 909.234.0342
Peace Fellow Scholars, District 5300
Chantelle Doerksen
Chantelle Doerksen, 2012-14, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, sponsored by the Las Vegas club, Karen Whisenhunt
Chantelle currently works as a senior data privacy and security analyst for Mattel. From 2015-2023, she worked with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in support of their global, multistakeholder community of volunteers.
During her time as a Rotary Peace Fellow, her research focused on human rights, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and the role of women in decision-making processes and policy development. Her Applied Field Experience focused on international and community development programs with the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) South Pacific office. She was hosted by the Rotary Club of Brisbane High Rise (Australia, District 29520).
In a volunteer capacity, she is a board member for Partnering for Peace, which fosters partnerships between Rotary and the U.S. Peace Corps. Previously, she was a 2019 ambassador for the Institute for Economics and Peace; chair for the Los Angeles Chapter of Mediators Beyond Borders International; and is a return Peace Corps Volunteer.
Chantelle is a member of the Rotary e-Club of World Peace, District 5330.
Florence Maher
Florence Maher, 2018-20, International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan, sponsored by the Las Vegas Club, Karen Whisenhunt
Florence Maher is a social scientist at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where she works to advance international co-operation on the human aspects of nuclear safety and improving gender balance in nuclear energy. Prior to her current position, she was a 2018-2020 Rotary Peace Fellow at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan, researching multi-stakeholder dialogue on policy processes. From 2011-2018 she was a career foreign service officer with the US Department of State, with assignments in Mexico, Italy, Honduras, and Washington, DC. She holds a Master’s degree in public policy and social research from the International Christian University (Japan) and Bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science from Howard University in Washington, DC (USA). She currently serves on the board of the Rotary Peace Fellowship Alumni Association (RPFAA).