The Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation (LBRSF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, was established by Long Beach Rotarians to offer scholarships to Long Beach area students at Long Beach City College (LBCC) and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).
Rotarians providing scholarships to our local colleges began fifty years ago in 1956 and in 1963, the LBRSF was formed. As a result of the generous contribution of Long Beach Rotarians and other third parties, the Foundation currently has a total value of over $7 million administered by a Board of Directors consisting entirely of Long Beach Rotarians.
The Foundation presently awards three types of scholarships at LBCC. We award our regular scholarship to Long Beach area high school seniors. Students are selected in an application process based on recommendations of Long Beach area high school counselors. These scholarships were increased effective Fall 2010 to $800 per year and are renewed through graduation or for up to six semesters if the student remains an eligible full time student. Scholarship recipients who maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average receive $900 per year. The Foundation also awards up to fifteen (15) $1,200 Honor Scholarships to LBCC high achieving (3.5 or above grade point average) students.
In 2007 the Foundation became a founding partner in LBCC’s “Gateway to Greatness” program which is a collaborative program between the Long Beach School District, LBCC and CSULB that promises the opportunity of a college education to every student in the LBUSD. The Foundation has committed to contribute up to $150,000 which is to be awarded on a yearly basis of up to $30,000. Our scholarship funds are used to pay the first semester tuition of qualifying, incoming freshmen from a Long Beach or Lakewood High School up to a maximum of $300 per student.
The Foundation has three categories of scholarships which it supports at CSULB. The Foundation’s traditional scholarships, awarded to students who attended Long Beach area high schools or matriculated from our LBCC scholarship program to CSULB, are provided to over 100 students. These students receive a recently increased to $1,500 yearly scholarship which is renewed through graduation or for up to ten semesters (maximum value of the scholarship is currently $7,500) if the student completes at least 12 units per semester and maintains a qualifying GPA.
In 2003 we established the Millennium Scholar Program and currently award approximately sixteen of these now $1,500 scholarships to current CSULB students meeting our criteria who did not apply when graduating from high school or transferring from LBCC. Since the inception of this program our Millennium Scholars have a graduation rate in excess of 95%.
The Foundation also participates in the President’s Scholarship Program initiated by former CSULB President Robert Maxson. These scholarships are awarded to high school valedictorians and National Merit Scholars. We sponsor four Presidential Scholars who are all graduates of Long Beach area high schools. We have encouraged a mentoring relationship between Long Beach Rotary members and our Presidential Scholars. The Foundation’s total scholarships for CSULB students currently totals about $175,000 per year.
As a result of the generosity of Long Beach Rotarians and the on-going efforts of the LBRSF, during the 2009-2010 school year we will award in excess of 250 scholarships with a value of about $275,000 to LBCC and CSULB students.
Our Foundation encourages donations, gifts or bequests from Long Beach Rotarians and other interested parties who support our programs providing scholarships to Long Beach area students. Any donations should be payable to: Long Beach Rotary Scholarship Foundation in care of Rotary Club of Long Beach 1119 Queens Highway, Suite 103 Long Beach, California 90802
2010-2011 Board of Directors
Frank Newell, Chair
Craig Dougherty, Vice Chair
Cam Killingsworth, Secretary
Jim Worsham, Treasurer
Bob Luskin, Past Chair
Robert Alban
Tom Clark
Craig Cross
Mark Curtis
Jerry Lane
Earl Marks
Jane Netherton
Mark Schneider
Steve Shaw
Jean Bixby Smith
Colleen Bragalone, Executive Director
2010-2011 Rotary Scholarship Application [ here ] Fall 2010 Applications are Closed and Scholarships have been awarded. Fall 2011 Application will be posted in January 2011.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS:
Deadline for acceptance of Fall 2010 applications has passed. It was Monday, April 12. The Fall 2010 scholarships have been awarded. If you are or know of a High School Senior attending a Long Beach Area High School who is planning on attending Long Beach City College or California State University, Long Beach in the future, please monitor this website for current information and watch for the 2011-2012 application which will be posted in January 2011 for you to print, fill out and deliver the completed application to the counselor at your school (listed below).
- Avalon - Richard Guerra
- Brethren Christian - Marcella Flippin
- Cabrillo - Rich Hildebrand
- EPHS - Susan Marumoto
- Jordan - Steve Rockenbach
- Lakewood - Janice Nabbout
- LB Adult School - Nancy Megli
- Millikan - Lanie De La Paz
- Polytechnic - Sylvia Womack
- Renaissance - Karen Roubinov
- St. Anthony - Roxana Rodriguez
- St. John Bosco - Basil Totah
- St. Joseph - Debbie Haley
- Woodrow Wilson - Kimberly Johnson/Julie Ahlgrim
CURRENT LBCC ROTARY SCHOLARS:
If you are a current Rotary scholarship recipient at LBCC and transferring to CSULB, please advise Alicia Kruizenga , LBCC Scholarship Associate Director, akruizenga@lbcc.edu, as your scholarship may be transferrable.
CSULB STUDENTS:
If you are a current student at CSULB and previously attended a Long Beach Area High School, you may be eligible for a Rotary Millennium Scholarship. Application deadline for Fall 2010 was March 11 and the scholarships have been awarded. Please monitor this link for future opportunities: http://www.csulb.edu/divisions/students/scholarships/search/display.php?sID=352