Each year, the Hampton Rotary Club proudly supports the academic aspirations of local students by awarding a $1,500 scholarship to a deserving Hampton high school senior. This scholarship includes an additional $1,000 for the recipient’s second year of college, contingent upon a satisfactory academic transcript.

The selection process is led by our dedicated Scholarship Committee, chaired by Ruth Simmons, a retired guidance counselor with the City of Hampton Schools. Leveraging her strong connections within the school system, Ruth reaches out to all four Hampton high schools to invite applications from eligible students.

Applications are distributed in February, collected in April, and reviewed in May. This year, the committee received 21 impressive submissions. Each applicant provided a detailed account of their school, community, national, and global activities, along with awards, honors, and leadership roles. They also submitted two personal essays—one explaining their need for the scholarship and another reflecting on the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” A transcript and a letter of recommendation from a non-family member were also required.

The Scholarship Committee carefully reviewed each application, evaluating the students’ achievements, character, and commitment to service. The caliber of applicants was so exceptional this year that the committee chose to award two scholarships instead of one.

The recipients were honored at a Hampton Rotary Club dinner meeting, where they shared their stories and future plans. Camerin Banks, last year’s scholarship recipient, returned to speak about her successful first year at Virginia Commonwealth University. This year’s winners, Charles Moore and Faith Jennings, inspired club members with their plans to attend Randolph-Macon College and UNC Wilmington, respectively.

The Hampton Rotary Club is proud to invest in the future of these bright young leaders and looks forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in their communities and beyond.