Challenge Scholar Program

Being a teenager is tough for anyone. But some kids have more challenges than others-- economic hardship, family and personal health issues, lack of role models, and poor self-image, just to name a few. Those hardships are the basis for the Challenge Scholars program, a mentoring and scholarship opportunity run by the “Sunrise” Rotary Club of Wenatchee, Washington since 1991.

Sunrise Rotary partners with local high school counselors to identify sophomores at greatest risk of dropping out. Those students are then ‘challenged’ to graduate on-time while being mentored by a Rotarian during their junior and senior years. Some incentives include:

• modest cash awards earned each semester by the student for passing their classes, performing community service, and meeting with their mentor
• the opportunity to receive one of two $10,000 scholarships, awarded each year, to support their next steps in education or job training

Up to ten new students are enrolled in a program cohort each year. Since being a Challenge Scholar is a two-year journey, there are two cohorts active at all times – which means Sunrise recruits up to 20 Rotary mentors to support the students. Nearby Clubs have pitched in with mentors: Wenatchee Rotary, Wenatchee Confluence Rotary, and East Wenatchee Rotary.

Want to know more? Reach out to us at [email protected]