OBJECTIVE –

Provide financial assistance to eligible students to participate in the Rotary District Youth Exchange program.

HISTORY –

· The Youth Exchange Program in Rotary District 7150 was founded in 1969 when Dr. Clarke T. and Ruth Case joined a Rotarian couple from Syracuse, Ed and Emily Hollister, to exchange students to study in local high schools.
· In 1971 the district sent and received its first two students.
· To date, more than 2000 students from our district have been exchanged with annual exchanges of 30-35 students.
· Clarke and Ruth served on the YE Committee for 16 years
· In 1987 the members of the District Committee and Utica Rotary established the Dr. Clarke T. and Ruth Case Scholarship fund in recognition of and to honor their guidance and support of the District 7150 Youth Exchange program.
· The first Scholarship was awarded in 1990 and 42 (check) scholarships have been awarded to date.
· The Scholarships will cover up to 50% of the international airfare of a recipient and are given based on the financial need of the student and their family.

THE SCHOLARSHIP –

· Applicants wishing to apply must complete the Dr. Clarke T. & Ruth Case Scholarship Application which can be downloaded here and forward it to the address shown. Recipients will be notified prior to their departure.
· The scholarship fund is directed by a committee that includes Ruth Case, the District Youth Exchange Committee Chair and Outbound Student Chair, a representative of the District Governor, and one from the Utica Rotary Club. Linda Allen, a Past President of Utica Rotary and Past Chair of the District’s Youth Exchange Committee serves as the fund’s Facilitator.
· The funds are partnered and administered by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties as a donor advised scholarship fund and donations are 501C(3) tax deductible.
· Recipients of the scholarship agree to complete their exchange year and upon their return to the US write a report summarizing their year abroad and its impact on their lives. Excerpts from former Case Scholarship recipients’ reports can be read here.
· Individuals wishing to make donations should send their check or appreciated stock annotated to the “Dr. Clarke T. and Ruth Case Scholarship Fund” to:

The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties Inc.
Attn: Case Scholarship Fund
1222 State St
Utica, NY 13501