The Rotary Club of Palm Valley (formerly Ponte Vedra Beach Sunset) is accepting applications for its annual Jeff Hart Memorial Service Above Self Scholarship.
The club will award a $2,000 scholarship to the top applicant from either Allen D. Nease or Ponte Vedra high school. The scholarship is open to juniors and seniors enrolled at either school (including those enrolled in virtual classes due to COVID-19) who have demonstrated their commitment to serving others in the community.
The scholarship was initiated in 2011 and chaired by charter member and club past president Jeff Hart, who died in 2019. It has been named in his honor.
The pandemic has required changes to the application and scoring process. The number of volunteer opportunities for teens has been reduced, and more teens are enrolled in virtual classes, which limits their direct access to school teachers and staff. The scholarship committee adapted the 2021 application to address these concerns in an effort to ensure all student applicants receive equal and fair consideration.
“In keeping with Rotary International’s Four Way Test to ‘be fair to all concerned,’ we adapted or dropped some of our application requirements to help make it as fair as possible for students to apply this year,” said club president Horton Hickerson. “We’re giving applicants the opportunity to share with us how they’ve adapted their service during the pandemic. This year, it’s not about how much service, but more about what kind of service and its impact.”
Program chair Paula Roderick emphasized that while academics play a role in selecting the winner, the scholarship is weighted most heavily on the applicant’s service.
Interested students must complete an online application at https://forms.gle/e6qC98y3twcEVjJJ7.
All applications for the 2021 Jeff Hart Memorial Service Above Self Scholarship must be received by April 3.
Scholarship applicants must be involved in community service, enrolled as juniors or seniors at either school, in good academic standing and planning to attend either a college, university, technical or trade school after high school graduation.
Children of Rotarians are not eligible.
For further information, contact the club’s Scholarship Chair at JeffHartSASS@gmail.com. Information is also available through both high schools’ scholarship coordinators/guidance offices.
The winner will be announced by May 30.
