Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee Scholarship program is dedicated to changing lives and forging relationships across generational boundaries.

The Rotary Club of Milwaukee Scholarship program is dedicated to changing the lives of Milwaukee’s youth and forging relationships across generational boundaries.

RCM’s holistic approach offers individual mentoring and financial aid to Milwaukee students with the desire, but not necessarily the means, to pursue higher education. Often RCM scholars are the first in their families to attend college. The program, which began as a grassroots effort by members in 2009, currently supports 24 students and boasts 7 graduates.

RCM scholarships are determined based on financial need and the overall success of fundraising efforts. Thanks to the continuous support and generosity of Rotarians and community members, RCM’s annual golf outing raises over $60,000 each year for the RCM Scholarship Fund, enabling RCM to support over 20 scholars studying at colleges and universities in Wisconsin and across the country. And the effort is fun for all!

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Gordon & Elizabeth Smith Scholarship

Gordon Smith was a member of Rotary for 30 years, and was president in 1976-77. After his passing in 2011, his son endowed a scholarship in his parents’ names. The endowed Gordon and Elizabeth Smith Scholarship augments the funds raised by the RCM Scholarship Golf Classic outing, allowing the committee to award an additional $4,500 in scholarships each year in perpetuity.

Bill Adams Scholarship

Bill Adams was a founding member of the RCM scholarship committee and dedicated mentor who passed away in 2013. Rotarians and friends of Bill made personal donations to create an endowed fund in his name, making possible an additional $2,250 scholarship each year. The first recipient of the Bill Adams Scholarship was a scholar mentored by Bill himself.