Rotary Awards Scholarships
Volunteer work at Red Bluff Round-Up raises funds for Rotary Club
High school scholarship recipients pose for a photo with Red Bluff Rotary club members. With monies raised from volunteering at the Red Bluff Round-Up, the Rotary was able to give away $14,000 in scholarships.
Red Bluff, Calif. (July 20, 2018) – The Red Bluff Rotary Club has granted fourteen high school scholarships, in part thanks to the Red Bluff Round-Up.
For the past 25 years, the Red Bluff Rotary Club has handled the beer sales at the annual Round-Up, and monies earned from sales have gone to fund high school scholarships.
This year, fourteen graduates received $1,000 towards their higher education. Recipients are Joelle Alexander, Tye Clement, Daniel Crispino, Cleo DuFrain, Rebecca Frey, Skylar Glines, Dylan Holley, Brayden Hutchins, Ashtin Lopeman, Anthony Poni, Nolan Stacy and Tanner Tweedt, all of Red Bluff High School.
Emilia Gray of Mercy High School in Burlingame, Calif. was a recipient, as was Skylar Ball of Los Molinos High School.
Bill Cornelius, former Rotary president and long-time member, says that in the 25 years that the Club has managed the Round-Up’s beer sales, 300 scholarships have been given. Between ten and fifteen are awarded each year, and the beer sales is the Club’s biggest fundraiser. “Absent the beer sales, it’s safe to say we would award scholarships but it would be miniscule,” he said. “It’s our most lucrative fundraiser we do every year.”
The Round-Up believes in community involvement, Cornelius said, and they realize the value of what the Rotary Club does. “The Round-Up has been a partner in this venture, and they see the importance of what we do in the community.”
The tips the Rotarians receive at the beer stands are collected and given to Dignity Health/St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, through the Tough Enough to Wear Pink fund. Cornelius estimates that the tip money is anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000 each year.
The Rotary Club gets as many as 300 applications each year for scholarships, and Cornelius notes that the youths’ applications are impressive. “We find there are so many good kids, not only academically but through their volunteering and community service. It’s important to us that they give back to their communities.”
It takes between forty and fifty Rotarians to man the beer stands at the Round-Up. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it, Cornelius said. “The week is long and labor intensive, but it pays off and it’s kind of fun.”
The Round-Up also gave its own scholarships to six students. Those receiving Round-Up scholarships were Marshal Brose, Madison Funk, Skylar Glines, Drew Stacy and Nolan Stacy.
The 2019 Red Bluff Round-Up will be held April 19-21. Performances begin at 7 pm on April 19, at 2:30 on April 20 and at 1:30 on April 21. Tickets will go on sale later this fall online at www.RedBluffRoundup.com and at the Round-Up office (530.527.1000). For more information, visit the website.