District Governor Jim Schmidt made his official visit to the Peoria North Rotary Club on Nov.5, 2025. Jim commended the club for its service to the community and its contributions to The Rotary Foundation, especially its strong support for End Polio Now.

During the meeting, the governor presented 10 first-time Paul Harris Fellows to the club's newest members. According to DG Jim, it was the most Paul Harris Fellows he has presented at one time this year!

The club thanked the governor for his visit and his commitment to promoting Rotary in Arizona by making a donation for $500 in his name to End Polio Now.

The Peoria North Rotary Club is now accepting applications for the club's 2026 educational scholarships to be granted to a graduating Peoria Unified School District high school student.

The George and Willi Wheeler Scholarship is available to all students who currently attend a PUSD high school or Mountain Ridge High School.

 The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. The scholarship will recognize high school students who demonstrate strong leadership skills that include opportunities to serve humanity.

The $3,000 Rotary scholarship may be used for any school-related payments such as tuition, books, software and/or equipment at any accredited college, university, vocational school, or certificate program.

The scholarship is named after two long-time club members: George and Willi Wheeler. George was a founding member of the Peoria North Rotary Club and a former Arizona Rotary District Governor. He passed away in 2022.

The Wheelers were strong supporters of education and instrumental in organizing a variety of club projects aimed at promoting literacy. The club recognizes Students of the Month at several Peoria high schools and has sponsored several book drives to benefit Peoria schools.

For over 10 years, a signature project of the club was to purchase and distribute dictionaries to third-grade students in the Peoria Unified School District.

“All during their dedicated careers in Rotary, the Wheelers traveled to many countries to distribute schoolbooks, administer the polio vaccine, provide computers to schools and bringing goodwill to underprivileged children,” said Darlene Eger, president of the Peoria North Rotary Club.

“Their dedication to helping children is the reason the George and Willi Scholarship was founded. It is Rotary’s desire to help as many students as possible to achieve an education and eventually hoping to eliminate poverty throughout the world.”

The deadline to apply for the 2026 scholarship is Dec. 31, 2025. Click here to download the application. 

For additional information, email the club at desertdar06@gmail.com.

The Rotary Club of Peoria North will hold its annual Fashion Show and Luncheon Nov. 22 at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West.

The event is a fundraiser for high school scholarships sponsored by the club, as well as local and international service projects. The George and Willi Wheeler Scholarship is presented each year to graduating students in the Peoria Unified School District.

The event takes place 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the country club, 20800 N. 135^th Ave., Sun City West. Lunch is served at noon.

Club members and friends will serve as models for the event. Models will be showcasing clothing from Calle Rose Fashions and all items will be available for purchase at the event.

Tickets are $50 and may be purchased by contacting Sharon Jarnagin at 602-309-3910 or Margaret Fried at 732-552-7631.

All proceeds benefit the club’s charitable foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting education, literacy, health and wellness, polio eradication and more.

For more information about the club, visit www.peorianorthrotary.net.