Why and How was The Rotary Foundation Scholarships initiated in 1947

In 1947, The Rotary Foundation launched its scholarship program for advanced overseas study as a memorial to founder Paul Harris, who died that year. Initially called the “Paul Harris Fellowships,” it was funded by global donations from Rotarians and intended to support graduate students. The program drew inspiration from the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program (1909–1929), which had financed Chinese students’ education in the U.S. using Boxer Rebellion indemnity funds. Richard H. Wells, a past Rotary International president and chairman of the Fellowships Committee, documented the origins and goals of the scholarships in 1947. Some former recipients of the Boxer Indemnity Scholarships later became prominent Rotarians in Chinese clubs. The Rotary Foundation Scholarships remain a key part of Rotary’s educational mission and international legacy.

Em 1947, a Fundação Rotária lançou seu programa de bolsas para estudos avançados no exterior como uma homenagem ao fundador Paul Harris, falecido naquele ano. Inicialmente chamadas de “Paul Harris Fellowships”, as bolsas foram financiadas por doações globais de rotarianos e voltadas ao apoio a estudantes de pós-graduação. O programa foi inspirado pelo Boxer Indemnity Scholarship Program (1909–1929), que financiou estudos de estudantes chineses nos EUA usando os fundos da indenização da Rebelião dos Boxers. Richard H. Wells, ex-presidente internacional do Rotary e presidente do Comitê de Fellowships, documentou as origens e objetivos das bolsas em 1947. Alguns beneficiários das bolsas de indenização dos Boxers tornaram-se rotarianos influentes em clubes chineses. As bolsas da Fundação Rotária continuam sendo parte essencial da missão educacional e do legado internacional do Rotary.

1947年，扶轮基金会设立了海外深造奖学金项目，以纪念当年去世的创始人保罗·哈里斯（Paul Harris）。该奖学金最初名为“保罗·哈里斯会员奖”，由全球扶轮会员捐款资助，旨在支持研究生学习。该项目部分灵感来自于1909年至1929年的“拳乱赔款奖学金项目”，该项目利用拳乱赔款资助中国学生赴美留学。前国际扶轮主席、奖学金委员会主席理查德·H·韦尔斯于1947年详细述说了该奖学金的起源与目标。一些拳乱赔款奖学金的受益人后来成为中国扶轮俱乐部的重要会员。扶轮基金会奖学金至今仍是扶轮教育事业和国际影响力的重要组成部分。