Ambassadorial & World Peace Scholars 2010 - 2011

About the Program
The Rotary Scholarship is sponsored by the Rotary Foundation to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program depends upon enthusiastic, responsible scholars who will talk about their experiences abroad. The scholarships provide for study abroad in one of the more than 160 countries and 34 geographical regions where Rotary clubs are located. Some 1,200 scholarships of various types are available from clubs worldwide. The value of each scholarship and local availability varies. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for one academic year abroad and provide up to US $26,000 or its equivalent.

During their studies abroad, Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars act as ambassadors of goodwill. Through appearances before Rotary clubs and districts, schools, civic organizations, and other forums, the scholars represent their homelands and improve international understanding.

Criteria
Applicants whose native language is other than that of the country in which they propose to study, must submit evidence of competence in the host country's language, and pass a language proficiency exam determined by the Rotary Foundation.

Spouses, children, and grandchildren of Rotarians are not eligible. Initial application is made through a local Rotary club, which endorses candidates to compete at the district level.

For our district we make our selections in August of each year, so we suggest that local Rotary clubs ask students to turn in applications in the May/June time frame so that the club will have enough time to review the applications and interview the students. Each club can nominate students to be considered by the district, but the deadline for applications to be submitted to the district is July 1st. The application is comprehensive and requires several recommendations from third parties, so it’s difficult to wait until the last minute to get it done.

Students must complete one year of college/university prior to applying for this scholarship, but it’s never too early to start thinking and planning for it. It’s also important that students understand that when they apply, the scholarship they are applying for would actually take place in the following year, so there’s a lot of planning ahead and flexibility with future plans that needs to happen.

In the handbook , there is a great section on club level interviews that gives you 95% of what you need to know.

Ambassadorial Scholar Hannah Kelley She has returned from Chile and is available (and excited!) to do presentations in our District about her Ambassadorial year. Contact her to make arrangements. Her project website from studying abroad is Scholar for Schools . The site has many details about my principal activity while I was in Chile, along with university. Ambassadorial Scholar Lauren Her recent letter Ambassadorial Scholar Hannah Kelley – this is a terrific up to date blog from one of our scholars that is currently outbound in Chile, she was the girl that went out as a youth exchange student and then ended up with a scholarship!

Ambassadorial Scholar Nikki Chesher -another sensational up to date blog by a scholar in France Her First Report Rotary flag hanging in a museum we visited My first dinner with Rotary in Tours The group of students at dinner in Paris My speech in Paris my first weekend My name is Nicole Chesher and I am an ambassadorial scholar from District 6400 in Michigan. I have been working with many of you over the past year in preparation for my study abroad. I am currently in Tours, France under District 1720 studying French language and culture for three months. I will return to the United States on December 20th. Attached you will find my first report complete with my required presentation form and evaluation form. Thank you for all of your help during this process. I greatly appreciate it.

For more information, click on the globe for the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship page