Door County students preparing for life after high school have two opportunities for financial support as the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay opens applications for its 2026 scholarship programs.

The Rotary Technical Education and Robert Muckian Scholarships are once again available to graduating seniors pursuing hands-on career paths. These scholarships support students enrolling in two-year accredited technical colleges or other recognized technical education programs. Applicants must have at least a 2.0 GPA, participate in extracurricular activities or employment, and demonstrate a commitment to community service.

Executive Director Ben Foster said reviewing applications is one of the most rewarding parts of the process.

“Just hearing the stories of how they’ve volunteered, not only in their own community, but abroad is quite amazing,” Foster said. “It just shows that at such a young age, the kids that write in, are just so inspiring.”

Scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,500 and are funded through the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay Charitable Trust, along with an endowment from the estate of longtime Rotarian Robert Muckian.

In addition, the Rotary Club has launched its Four-Year “Service Above Self” Scholarship for students in the Class of 2026 planning to attend an accredited college or university full time. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,500 and are awarded to students in the upper half of their graduating class who demonstrate exceptional dedication to community service.

Foster said community response to the program continues to be strong. “It is really cool that we get such a great turnout for these scholarships,” he said.

To assist students during the application process, Rotary is once again partnering with Write On, Door County to offer free essay-writing support.

In recent years, the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay has awarded approximately $15,000 annually in scholarships. Full details and application instructions for both scholarship programs are available through the Door County Scholarship Network. Students must complete the online application by Friday, March 13. Scholarship recipients will be recognized at a Rotary luncheon in April.