Rotary and Flroence Riford Scholarships

La Jolla Rotary Foundation administers two scholarship programs under which approximately $140,000 is distributed each year to graduates of La Jolla High School, The Bishop’s School, La Jolla Country Day School and The Preuss School. These are known as:

A) La Jolla Rotary Scholarships and

B) Florence Riford Scholarships

Both of these scholarship programs provide financial assistance during the first year of college, and are intended to reward achievement and enable graduating seniors of these four La Jolla area high schools to further their education. However, the criteria for considering the scholarship applicants differ somewhat and are described in sections A. & B. below. Students may be eligible to receive additional scholarship assistance during their Sophomore, Junior and Senior years.


A. La Jolla Rotary Scholarships

A) Applicant must attend a four-year college or university in the United States as a full-time student with enrollment commencing in the fall after graduating high school.

B) Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.

C) Applicant must have an un-weighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.5

D) Applicant cannot be a child, grandchild, niece or nephew of a member of La Jolla Rotary.

E) Applicant must submit a completed application (refer to section C.) before the specified deadline (refer to section E.).

F) Evaluation criteria include academic achievement, financial need, extracurricular activities, community service, notable experiences or skills, and interview impression.

Funds to support La Jolla Rotary Scholarships are derived from donations, grants, bequests and fundraising activities of the La Jolla Rotary Club. Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors tend to be in the range of $3,000 to $5,000.
B. Florence Riford Scholarships

A) Applicant must attend a four-year college or university in California as a full-time student pursuing studies leading to a career in science, mathematics, engineering or medicine, with enrollment commencing in the fall after graduating high school.

B) Preference will first be given to applicants enrolling at UCSD, and then to those enrolling in other California four-year colleges or universities.

C) Applicant must be a citizen of the United States.

D) Applicant must have an un-weighted cumulative GPA of at least 3.5

E) Applicant cannot be a child, grandchild, niece or nephew of a member of La Jolla Rotary.

F) Applicant must submit a completed application (refer to section C.) before the specified deadline (refer to section E.).

G) Evaluation criteria include academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community service, notable experiences or skills, and interview impression. Financial need is not a criterion in the awarding of this scholarship.

The Florence Riford Scholarship program was established and endowed by the late Mrs. Florence Riford, who was the first female member of the La Jolla Rotary Club. Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors tend to be in the range of $3,000 to $5,000.