ESCANABA — In May 2024 the Escanaba Rotary Trust Fund for Children with Special Needs will award one scholarship of up to $4,000 to a senior with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) graduating from a high school in Delta County. Another $4,000 scholarship is available to any graduating high school senior who is pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree and plans to serve special needs students. Applications must be postmarked by April 15 to be considered.

Application forms are available on the Escanaba Rotary Club’s website, www.escanabarotary.org. Applications can also be found with Delta County High School Counselors or Scholarship Coordinators and the ISD Special Education/Transition coordinator.

The scholarships are paid in increments of $500 per semester. Students must be enrolled in a university, college, or technical school the fall semester following graduation to be eligible. Scholarship recipients must provide both proof of completion of their fall semester college courses, have a GPA of 2.0 or greater, and proof of their next semester enrollment to receive the full scholarship award.

The Rotary Trust Board manages Camp Harstad in Escanaba. Originally founded in 1949 to provide summer camp opportunities to young people who dealt with the aftereffects of polio, Camp Harstad’s service to area youth and their families has evolved. In the 1970s the camp served children with a variety of disabilities and now focuses on summer camp opportunities for students with special needs. Camp Harstad has partnered with the Northern Lights YMCA to ensure properly trained and credentialed counselors staff the camp. A regular swim program at the Y accompanies the day camp weekly sessions. Camp Harstad is located on State Highway M-35 south of Escanaba.

The Rotary Club of Escanaba is part of Rotary International, a humanitarian service organization which brings together business and professional leaders to provide community service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self” and it guides all they do.