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Scholarships

Al Gilless Southaven Rotary Club Scholarship Endowment

The only charter member still active with the Southaven Rotary Club is creating a legacy with a scholarship Endowment that will keep improving his community for generations.“Rotary has been interested in the education of this community since the club was chartered in the 1960s,” Southaven developer Al Gilless said in explaining his charitable investment. “I really think it’s the key to the future.”

Gilless took advantage of the Community Foundation’s initiative to provide 25% matching funds for all of its scholarship Endowments above $50,000. "I was glad to partner with the Community Foundation,” Gilless said. “I feel like the Community Foundation is doing a good job.”

The scholarship fund will help graduates of Horn Lake, Southaven and Southern Baptist Educational Center high schools.

 “I’m not a college graduate,” Gilless said, “but I’d like to help the kids who are working really hard to get theirs.”

Hernando Lions Club Scholarship Endowment

Established in 2008, this fund will provide scholarships to college-bound Hernando High School students.  Members of the Hernando Lions Club have been granting an annual scholarship for many years.  Now, through this new endowment, they will carry on this tradition for perpetuity.

Rosa Lee Jennings Scholarship 

The Rosa Lee Jennings Scholarship was established by residents of Wesley Meadows Retirement Community to honor the memory of beloved activity director, Rosa Lee Jennings. They conducted fundraisers and began an endowed fund at the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.

The scholarship is usually awarded to a high school senior who volunteers at Wesley Meadows.

For more information on applying for scholarships, call The Community Foundation at 662.449.5002.

Hernando Rotary Vaiden Scholarship

 The Hernando Rotary Vaiden Scholarship was started by Katherine C. Vaiden in memory of her beloved husband, Leonard Vaiden, in 1967.  As a show of appreciation for Leonard’s Rotary experience and what the club had meant to him, Katherine gave $50,000 to the Rotary Club to establish a scholarship fund in his name.

 When the Rotary Club decided to invest the money to create a fund with the Community Foundation in 2005, the Community Foundation along with the Maddox Foundation agreed to a 25 percent match for it. Another $12,500 was used to create a “Hernando fund” to provide grants for city projects.

 Recipients of the scholarship must be Hernando residents, either high-school seniors or prospective college students who have never applied for the scholarship before.

 For more information contact The Community Foundation at 662.449.5002.

DeSoto County Prayer Council Scholarship

Established in 2005, this scholarship is awarded annually to a DeSoto County resident. Guidelines for this scholarship are coming soon. To learn more, contact The Community Foundation at 662.449.5002.