Two relay teams made up of Rotary Club of Elmhurst members and friends took on the Chicago Triathlon on Aug. 23, swimming, biking and running their way to more than $12,000 in donations for the club's "Service Above Self" Scholarship.
Each team completed the full Olympic-distance course as a relay—a 1-mile swim in Lake Michigan, a 25-mile bike ride, and a 6-mile run—with teammates trading off legs of the race along the way. The effort combined athletic challenge with community purpose, as every dollar raised goes directly toward funding scholarships for local students.
"Our triathletes trained hard all summer, and it showed—not just in how they finished the race, but in how our community showed up behind them," said Greg St. Laurent, president of the Rotary Club of Elmhurst. "Every donation brings us closer to helping another deserving student pursue their education. That's service above self in action."
The "Service Above Self" Scholarship provides $5,000 per year for four years—$20,000 total—to a graduating senior from York Community High School, Timothy Christian High School, or Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep who has demonstrated a genuine commitment to helping others in the community. Since 1955, the Rotary Club of Elmhurst has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships to over 400 students. One hundred percent of the funds raised through this year's triathlon effort will go directly toward the 2026-2027 award.
The club thanks the many local donors, friends, and family members who supported the teams and helped surpass their fundraising goal. Those interested in learning more about the scholarship program and past recipients can visit elmhurstrotary.org/scholarships.
About the Rotary Club of Elmhurst
The Rotary Club of Elmhurst brings together local business and community leaders committed to service, fellowship, and giving back. For more than seven decades, the club has supported local students through its scholarship program and contributed to a wide range of community and international service projects, guided by the Rotary motto "Service Above Self." Learn more at elmhurstrotary.org.
