Salem Rotary 2025 Scholarship Launched, Auction Fundraiser In April

SALEM, MA — The Salem Rotary has launched its latest scholarship application after donating more than $478,000 to graduating Salem high school seniors over the past three decades.

The deadline to apply to the scholarship, awarded to any graduating Salem senior or individual in a one-year cap after high school, is April 17. The application can be found here.

Funds go directly to students and not to the post secondary school for tuition.

These funds can help with food, books, transportation, rent, and all the associated costs of further education. Scholarships are based on more than just GPA, such as need, community involvement and community service. The process also includes a 15-minute Zoom interview with the finalist candidates in mid-May.

The late Salty Smith, owner of Salem Oil and Grease in Blubber Hollow near the North River and Grove Street, founded the scholarship. Rob Lutts, of Cabot Wealth Management, took care of investing the small amounts Rotarians contributed starting in 1993 with the first scholarships awarded in 1994.

The first scholarships from the funds were awarded in 1994.

Buck Alexander, a Rotarian and local orthodontist, the families and Rotarians went into high gear adding funds to the Scholarship fund after Smith's death in 2001.

Alexander's widow, Beth Stevenson, and Salty's sister, Elizabeth, still contribute generously to the fund, as do individual Rotarians and the club itself when it has extra funds at the end of a fiscal year.

Thirty years later, the fund is worth $1.3 million and with a 3.5 percent draw each year to help fund scholarships.

The entire community is invited to the Rotary Auction that raises additional funds for the scholarships. This year's event will be April 4 at 6 p.m. at the Hawthorne Hotel.