ROTARY BURSARY PROGRAM PUTS $134,000 INTO 33 GRAVENHURST STUDENTS’ FUTURES

Local post-secondary students supported

through long-running education fund

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — A dozen students and sponsors gathered Thursday night at the Opera House to celebrate one of the Gravenhurst Rotary Club’s most enduring legacies — a bursary program that continues to open doors for local youth pursuing post-secondary education.

This year 33 Gravenhurst students shared $134,000 in Rotary bursaries, drawn from a $2.5-million principle fund, according to Rob Abbott, chair of the club’s foundation committee.

“This program is all about investing in our community’s future,” Abbott told Rotarians. “We’re seeing students succeed in a wide range of programs, and that’s exactly what this fund was created to do.”

Six students — three young men and three women — spoke during the annual celebration, sharing experiences from first-year through fourth-year studies. Their programs range from police foundations and teaching to other professional and academic disciplines.

Several sponsors who help fund the bursaries also attended, reinforcing the close connection between donors and recipients that has defined the program for decades.

“It means a lot to know people back home believe in you,” one student told the gathering. “This support takes real pressure off and lets us focus on our studies.”

Six of this year’s 33 Gravenhurst Rotary bursary student recipients and foundation sponsors got together Thursday for an annual celebration of the program Thursday. Back left, Carly Leal, Cloe Meadow, Ellie Brown, Brianna Winterstein, Regan Tucker and Hayden Foley. And front left, Jamie Doherty and his wife Doherty whose late parents were the original donor. Next to them donors Dale and Bob Barnes and Marina Hoekstra and Marlyn Goodwin. PHOTO Mark Clairmont MuskokaTODAY.com

A tradition built to last

The Rotary bursary program has grown steadily over the years, supported by careful stewardship of the endowment fund and ongoing community generosity.

Among those attending Thursday’s celebration were family members connected to the program’s original donors, along with long-time supporters who continue to help ensure the fund’s sustainability.

“This is one of the things Rotary does best,” Abbott said. “It’s quiet, consistent support — and the impact lasts a lifetime.”

Rotarians say the annual student and sponsor gathering is a reminder that the club’s work extends well beyond service projects, helping young people build careers while strengthening the community as a whole.

FACT BOX

Gravenhurst Rotary Bursary Program

  • Students supported in 2025: 33
  • Total bursaries awarded: $134,000
  • Endowment fund value: $2.5 million
  • Eligible students: Graduates from Gravenhurst-area schools pursuing post-secondary education
  • Fields of study represented: Police foundations, teaching, and other college and university programs including adult studies for the full-length of their educational careers
  • Program administered by: Gravenhurst Rotary Club Education Bursary Fund
  • Foundation chair: Rob Abbott

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