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$423,450
Achievement Beyond Obstacles
Achievement Beyond Obstacles (ABO) is an innovative scholarship program dedicated to students sometimes overlooked by other scholarships. Counselors from every high school in Washoe County—currently more than 20, including charter and private high schools—nominate one or more students for this program. These students have overcome major obstacles in their lives and desire to continue their education but often do not qualify for other scholarships which are typically based upon grades or school participation.
In the 2024-2025 school year, 12 high schools nominated 35 students with 27 of them attending Leadership Weekend. 21 of those 27 completed applications and spoke to the Rotary Clubs. From that group, we awarded $28,000 to 18 of these seniors. In addition, 22 continuing students, from prior years, were awarded $39,000 in scholarships.
ABO
Scholarships
2018 through 2025,
we have provided the following:
Total Scholarship Amount: $423,450
115 High School Seniors
139 College Alumni
| SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amt Given | Seniors | ABO Alumni |
| 2018-2019 | $37,500 | --- | 11 |
| 2019-2020 | $42,450 | 12 | 14 |
| 2020-2021 | $46,000 | 16 | 13 |
| 2021-2022 | $47,000 | 15 | 15 |
| 2022-2023 | $52,000 | 14 | 19 |
| 2023-2024 | $65,000 | 23 | 23 |
| 2024-2025 | $66,500 | 17 | 22 |
| 2025-2026 | $67,000 | 18 | 22 |
| Totals | $423,450 | 115 | 139 |
Workshops We Offer to Ensure Student Success
Why Consider an ABO Scholarship?Achievement beyond Obstacles (ABO) is a Rotary-sponsored scholarship program designed to provide help to students who might not otherwise have the resources to compete for scholarships in higher learning opportunities.
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Selected by School Counselors
Reno/Sparks NV school counselors select the students to participate in applying for scholarship help with their recommendation to Rotary.
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Workshops Designed to Prepare Students for Higher Learning
Students learn how to create a budget, effectively communicate and find more financial assistance as needed.
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Dedicated Team
Students have an ABO Liaison to help them on the path to success in obtaining scholarships and preparing a budget
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ABO is a 501(c)(3) Charitable organization; we will provide you with a Donation Letter for tax purposes.
What have our students shared with us...
Each high school seniors who has received a scholarship are invited to apply each following year of their education.
We offer scholarships for community college, college and university education as well as vocational and trade school pursuits.
Marta
Thank you for everything that...ABO has done for me, helping me fund for my higher education. I will be graduating in May with my Bachelors Degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration and I could not thank you...enough for helping me get here....I will forever show resilience in everything I do! Once again, thank you...so much!
Lauren M.
"I can't believe the day is here, but I am submitting my final ABO Scholarship application! I am wrapping up my fourth year of the PhD, and entering my fifth and final year, hopefully graduating in May 2026."
[ABO supported Lauren for the entirety of her undergraduate degree in Environmental Engineering, her masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and her PhD from Yale in Chemical and Environmental Engineering.]
Jairo S.
"Before joining the program, I often questioned whether I truly belonged in academic and leadership spaces. However, ABO provided me with a community that saw my value before I did, and in turn, I learned to believe in myself again. Receiving the ABO scholarship for the 2024–2025 academic year was more than just financial support—it was a source of hope."
Kaleb G.
"Last year’s ABO program, though at the time to me seemed like an extra step in order to receive the scholarship, actually proved to be more beneficial as time went on. Opening up in that program allowed me to express who I am as a person among my peers which I have not done in the past before. It feels like I am no longer wearing a mask, hiding my emotion. I am no longer dragging bottled up emotions. I do not believe I would have the same mindset had it not
been for the program where I was able to express myself."
Alberto P.
Tatiana R.
Being on maternity leave and approaching the new year has really made me self reflect. It’s crazy to think 6 years ago; I was living in a shoebox apartment in downtown Reno. Wondering how I was going to give my daughter a better life than mine, while applying for federal housing.
I now write this from my house in Texas, that I bought with my husband on our own, when I was 24 years old. Thanks to my job that I’ve been employed with for the past 4 years. Where I started as a production assistant with limited knowledge of YouTube and Minecraft.
Now I’m a co-producer that help leads a group of talented showrunners, using not only the knowledge I obtained in college; but also the priceless knowledge of working at my company.
To anyone “stuck” right now, keep pushing and don’t be afraid to voice your ideas, or take a chance and learn something new.
Ivan
“I started working in a lab with a contact I made in the Rotary program (ABO)! I have been able to set my schedule up pretty well, the scholarship money I got from the rotary club helped a really great deal since I was able to cut down on work, now I’m only working 2-3 days a week.”
Jessica B.
How it's works
To begin...
Workshops
Scholarship Application
Rotary Presentations
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