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The Escondido community has a large number of students who are unsure of their future when graduating from high school. The Escondido Rotary Club After 5 has developed a robust and extremely successful scholarship program over the past six years. Each year, the club interviews 10-15 highly at-risk students from the local Escondido continuation school (Valley High School) and work with the students to understand their goals and what steps they need to take to achieve them. The club then selects 10 students with high motivation and serious unmet needs to mentor and support financially. The club provides $750 scholarships which can be used to pay for community college tuition or materials, starter equipment for trade apprenticeships (i.e. tools, steel toed boots, union membership), or seed money for other non-traditional careers. This financial support is often one-time, but can be renewed for up to four years, dependent on fund availability.
All students have had at least three negative traumatic experiences and all students have grown up consistently below the federal poverty level. Examples of trauma have included death of a parent, incarceration of one or both parents, serious medical issue, death of a sibling, extended homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, victim of crime, victim of or witness to domestic violence.
Throughout the following year, ERA5 members follow up with recipients, offering encouragement, problem solving, and just showing the support that these students often lack. This follow up and opportunity for renewal of the scholarships has led this program to being highly successful, with 87% of all recipients fully employed and above the federal poverty level after three years. This program is highly successful and is a top priority for the club to fully fund.
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