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ROTARY AMBASADORIAL SCHOLARS

The Objective is

“To Further International Understanding and World Peace”

2009 LETS Presentation By Doug Hutchinson

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Ambassadorial Scholarships

• This Rotary International program was founded 60 years ago and to date has seen more than 40,000 scholars from about 100 nations studying abroad

• Today this is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program.

• Our District 9940 began with this program in 1953 and to date we have hosted over 70 scholars

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Scholarship Programs

• Ambassadorial Scholarships: funding for one to three academic year of study at an institution.

• Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship: funding for three to six months of language training and cultural immersion.

• Rotary World Peace Scholarship: funding for a two-year master’s level in peace and conflict resolution studies at one of the Rotary university partners.

A flat grant of approx U$ 11,000 (NZ$ 17,600) for each year

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2009 Ambassadorial Scholar - Kara Martin

• Hosted by the Rotary Club of Harbour City Wellington currently a senior Marketing and Spanish major, but pursuing a Master's and eventually a PhD in Linguistics.

• Ideally she will work for UNICEF, travelling wherever there is need, helping to empower communities and give children the human rights and opportunities they deserve.

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2009 Ambassadorial Scholar - Melissa Lopez

• Melissa Lopez is sponsored by the Bradley Sunrise Rotary Club of Cleveland, Tennessee for her year of study at Victoria University Wellington. She is enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration honours programme and is hosted by the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson

• As a graduate of Lee University, a private liberal arts college in the foot hills of the Appalachian Mountains. There she studied International Business Administration, and also music and Spanish literature.

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2009 Ambassadorial Scholar - Mayambo Peipul

• Mayambo Peipul is from Papua New Guinean is completed a professional diploma in legal practice at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. She is the daughter of the Imbongu member of parliament, Peter Peipul, Mayambo

• She is a Rotaract Club member of Port Moresby District 9600 and is completing her Masters in Law at the Victoria University of Wellington. Mayambo said she will have a problem trying to practice law in PNG but she is looking forward to apply to the National Court for admittance under its discretion

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Successful Outbound Scholars

• Ambassadorial Scholar – 2008 Ihma Shareef who is at London for a Masters in International Relations

• Cultural Scholar – 2008 Lucy Ellis who is went to Senegal for 6 months Language Training

• World Peace Scholars – 2008 Dan Cooney who is at the University of Southern California.

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Rotary Responsibility

• Provide professional promotions, nominations & selection processes.

• Provide suitable orientation training and ongoing scholar support and reporting.

• Ensure that there remains enthusiastic hosting by Clubs and Counsellors.

• Arrange for other Club invitations for scholars to visit and to play their part as Ambassadors.

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Ambassador Responsibility

• While abroad, scholars are expected to serve as goodwill Ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups.

• Another is to participate where appropriate in service projects

• Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that lead to a greater understanding of their host country

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Host Club Perspective

• Hosting an Ambassadorial Scholar will make a great contribution to the life of your Club

• The scholars engender respect, tolerance and greatly enhance members international understanding

• The scholars maintain a lifelong association with Rotary and promote the organisation to others

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Do we achieve the Goals?

• Those of you whose Clubs have supported scholars both inward and outward and have kept in touch will know how much the experiences they have had have enriched lives

• For my part as a committee member it has been great to learn of their ongoing success and to meet the friends of incoming scholars who have been encouraged to come down under to share something of their experience - a great multiplier effect

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In Closing

• I encourage all Clubs to invite our scholars to come to their meetings and share experiences and culture to make sure we gain as much as possible from our investment

• Applications for 2010/2011 Outward Ambassadorial Scholars close 30th June and are due for review in July.

• For further information check out District 9940 Web Site or contact the Committees Chair Person Brian Lynch