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Attention March 31, 2008 Applicants and Sponsors and Sponsor Clubs
Ambassadorial Scholarship Program Information
Calendar
Additional Materials and Information
District 5300 Ambassadorial Scholar Selection Committee
District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars (2007-2008)
District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars (2008-2009)
District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars, (2009-2010)

Attention March 31, 2008 Applicants and Sponsors and Sponsor Clubs

Scholars and Sponsors - as you finalize your application, please re-check this web-page frequently. We promise to make no substantive changes after March 15. Any changes prior to March 15 will be posted in these first few paragraphs.

Please submit 12 (yes, twelve) copies of your complete application. Please DO NOT bind it, other than one binder clip per copy. (I will donate any submitted 3 ring binders to my club's adopted elementary school - the Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee does not need them.) Please do NOT copy nor include the following pages - 1, 2, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20.

The committee welcomes separately typed answers for Section II (on pages 8-9 and 10-11), with reference in the typing to each question being answered and inserted in the application behind the appropriate page. BUT, this is not required - the recommenders are offered the opportunity to type rather than write.

Do not bring any additional handout material to the interview. The committee will only consider your application and your personal appearance.

Dress as you plan to dress for your Ambassadorial Rotary Club appearances abroad.

Candidate's address vs Sponsor Club location: The District prefers candidates who will likely return to the District after completion of the year abroad, hopefully to become District 5300 Rotaractors or Rotarians. The candidate's address need not match the sponsor club location - we only want to know that the Sponsor Club and Sponsoring individual are enthusiastic about the candidate and will do all possible to maintain contact with the candidate after the Amb Sch years have past.

New Requirement for District 5300:  Include a one page Budget:
The Scholars are essentially receiving a "flat grant" (payment terms are described in the Rotary International pages) of $24,000. The committee would like to know (the "detailed statement of intent" essay is a great place to explain) the Scholar's plans for the funds. No surprise, in past years, scholars with well-thought and plausible service projects/goals have risen to the top of the selection list.  The scholar should also include a one page budget. Label it "Budget" and place it as the last page of the application package. Base the budget on the scholar's first choice of school. It should include broad categories, not details, such as, but not limited to: tuition, monthly living expense estimate, housing expense estimate, travel costs estimate, dollar exchange rate allowances, etc. If the total of expenses exceeds $24,000, please add a note explaining the resource(s) planned to make up the difference.

March 7, 2008 Addendum: For the 2008 interviews, the Committee will allow videoconference interviews for applicants who cannot appear in person due to extremely extenuating circumstances, such as, being out of the country studying abroad. The District and committee have established rules for the videoconference eligibility and execution, the rules are available upon request by email to the District Chair, Chip Ossman, Ossman@projmediate.com . The video conference interviews will be held on April 19 with the full committee's participation, interviews are not available on any days other than April 19 (and April 18 should we have more applicants than can be interviewed on April 19).

After the 2008 interviews are completed, the Committee and District Strategic Planning Committee will evaluate the efficacy of the videoconference interview process and advise the District membership if the videoconference interviews will be allowed in 2009. Please contact Chip Ossman if you have any questions about this or any other aspect of the District's Ambassadorial Scholarship Program.

Ambassadorial Scholarship Program Information

The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program is Ambassadorial Scholarships. Since 1947 nearly 37,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2006-07. The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.

Each year the Rotary Scholar Selection Committee looks forward to interviewing another group of outstanding Ambassadorial Scholar applicants. Our applicants represent excellence in character, public service, familiarity with Rotary, and academics. The Committee encourages all clubs in the District to sponsor applicants to compete for the scholarships available each year. Our District Designated Funds and Strategic Planning Committee determine the number of scholarships available each year. Years past have had as many as seven available scholarships. After committee interviews and selection, Rotary International assigns successful applicants to one of the five study institutions listed in their applications. Scholars are assigned to their first choice institution whenever possible.

Our District has elected to provide only the Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships. These scholarships are essentially a grant to support one academic year of study and ambassadorial goodwill in another country. The grant for the 09-10 scholars will be $24,000 or local equivalent. Successful applicants will begin their year of study not earlier than the fall of the next year (e.g., interviewed April of 2008, enter institution of choice in fall of 2009).

The academic-year scholarship program considers the following factors:

1. No age limit.
2. Must have competed at least two years university study or appropriate professional experience before scholarship
3. If a principal candidate relinquishes an award before 1 February, the district will be notified and a replacement candidate for the same type of SHARE option can be submitted for study in the same program year. If a scholar relinquishes his/her award after 1 February, DDF funds committed for the award will revert back to the district for future use.
4. Applications are due March 31st to the Committee: Applications received after that date can not be considered because of the process followed by the Scholar Selection Committee. Time is needed to process, reproduce and distribute the applications to the members of the Selection Committee for their review prior to the interviews. Other key dates in the application process are found elsewhere on the District 5300 web site.
5. Interview Dates : The tentative interview dates for each year scholarships are on a Friday and Saturday in late April. The actual interview dates will be posted on this Web Site as soon as they are available. If an applicant has a preference for a particular day and/or time for his or her interview every effort will be made to accommodate the request. The interviews will be held at a convenient location to be determined. Watch for an announcement on this Web Site.

The Selection Committee sets aside 30 minutes for each interview, and uses the last five minutes of the interview to make notes regarding the applicant’s performance. Therefore, concise, well thought out responses to questions are appreciated. Several of the interview questions are based on information contained in the Application. The number of candidates who will be interviewed for Ambassadorial Scholarships will be limited to 15. If more than 15 applications are received they will be pre-screened to select the 15 applicants that will be interviewed.

Applications for the "Class of 2009-2010" are available from Rotary International, click: http://www.rotary.org/en/StudentsAndYouth/EducationalPrograms/AmbassadorialScholarships/Pages/About.aspx  .

Applicants Need A Rotary Club Sponsor: A person considering applying for a Scholarship through District 5300 will need to be sponsored by a District 5300 Rotary Club. Sponsoring clubs assign a Rotarian to assist the applicant throughout the application process. See the District 5300 Rotary Club Information page for information on how to contact a local Club. If you are unable to contact your local Club please contact one of the Committee Members listed below. While Committee Members will provide general information on the Scholar Program, please discuss any questions related to completing the application with your Club Sponsor.

 The Selection Committee has found that applicants that are not at least university juniors when they apply have a difficult time competing with the other applicants. Much of the disadvantage results from (1) not having had sufficient time to demonstrate a commitment to Rotary’s humanitarian goals, and (2) having one less year of community service than the other applicants. Stated another way, another year of life experience is a significant benefit this early in an applicant’s life.

A frequently asked question is: “If a club sponsors an Ambassadorial Scholar applicant, and the applicant is selected, how can the Club pay for the $24,000 scholarship?” There is no direct cost to clubs for participating in the Scholar Program. Scholarships are funded through the Rotary Foundation. A portion of the contributions of all Rotarians to the Foundation are allocated to the Scholar Program

Availability Of Program Information: If you would like additional information explaining the Scholar Program or to arrange for a speaker on the Scholar Program please contact the Chair of the Selection Committee or any other Committee Member. .A Club can sponsor a maximum of two applicants each year.

The RI Web Site at www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html  contains substantial information on the Ambassadorial Scholar Program (Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Web Page). Also, a brochure on the Program is available at www.rotary.org/newsandinfo/downloadcenter/foundation/educational.html#scholarships  (Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships Leaflet)

Role of Sponsor Counselor. The president of the sponsor club must appoint a Rotarian sponsor counselor for each principal candidate and note that appointment on the candidate’s scholarship application form. The sponsor counselor should:

1. Contact the scholar and arrange a personal meeting.
2. Ensure that the scholar has good knowledge of Rotary as an organization, Rotary Foundation objectives, and his / her responsibilities as a scholar and ambassador of goodwill.
3. Attend district or multidistrict orientation with the scholar.
4. Arrange for  the scholar’s attendance at local club meetings and  district functions.
5. Review the financial aspects of the scholarship award so the scholar understands the Foundation’s funding policies.
6. Help the scholar contact his / her host counselor to become acquainted, and write to both the scholar and host counselor during the scholarship.

Ambassadorial Scholar Responsibilities. All Ambassadorial Scholars are required to:

1. Support the objectives of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program in fulfilling the Foundation’s mission.
2. Understand that the primary purpose of the scholarships is to function as unofficial ambassadors of goodwill for Rotary and their home countries and to strengthen international understanding through study abroad.
3. Complete all pre-departure documents on time and comply with the conditions of their awards as outlined in the official Acceptance Form.
4. Attend an outbound orientation program. Scholars unable to attend the orientation offered to them should arrange to attend an alternate orientation seminar. Refusal to attend without a valid excuse may result in forfeiture of the scholarship.
5. Be prepared to study anywhere they are assigned by the Rotary Foundation Trustees.
6. Be responsible for all costs beyond the scholarship amount.
7. Speak before various Rotary and non-Rotary audiences, be available for media interviews at home and abroad, and participate in service projects.

Calendar

2009/2010 Outbound Scholars (Current Application Cycle)
2008: Application Year,  2009: Study Year Starts

Additional Materials and Information

Ambassadorial Scholarship Application (Adobe Acrobat File)
District 5300 Rotary Club Information (Presidents, Mailing Addresses, Meeting Locations, etc.)
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Web Page

 District 5300 Ambassadorial Scholar Selection Committee

District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars (2007-08)

	Christina DesVaux Biography Email: cdesvaux@gmail.com Host Club: Rotary Club of Montevideo, Uruguay (District 4980) Study Institution: Universidad de Montevideo Study Field: Independent Research, "Gender, Equity, and Fair Trade Sponsor Club: Las Vegas, Nevada Sponsor Counselor: Karen Whisenhunt Phone: 702-362-8245 Email: kwhis@cox.net Christina's Blog I write from Rio de Janeiro--the "City of God"--where I am visiting with two fellow Ambassadorial Scholars (one is on vacation and the other is studying here in Rio). Each of us has marveled at how incredible it is that we are together here Brazil, so far from our respective homes (Las Vegas, Chicago, and Georgia), after having met for just two days at our Rotary Scholar Orientation in Pittsburgh. That was May and this is February, and tonight we will dance the samba with thousands of Cariocas--the name for people of Rio--and thousands of others from around the globe. Last night we cheered with thousands of futbol fans and sprinted for a seat in Macarena, the world's largest soccer stadium, not even full with close to 100,000 spectators. As we ran for the gates we spotted a Rotary wheel statue outside of the stadium's entrance, and we agreed that it was a perfect illustration for Rotary: Rotary is community and it is global. Near and far, its presence is felt. I applied for the Rotary Scholarship believing it to be a perfect complement to my studies of International Relations. Though I had taken courses on political theory and Latin American economies, my education seemed incomplete without a prolonged experience abroad. What's more, I wanted to truly be a part of the community I would live in. Having access to the Rotary community, both in my sending and receiving Districts, makes it possible to lead a uniquely integrated life while living and studying abroad. Surely no Rotary scholar can say they are rootless, as Rotary's roots and branches stem far and wide. Though I applied to my scholarship nearly 2 years ago, sitting on the edge of beginning my scholarship in Montevideo, Uruguay next week, I can assure you that it will be well worth the wait. I will be studying at the University of Montevideo, under two tutors in the School of Business. I will be conducting independent research regarding Female Artisan Cooperatives, Fair Trade, and Gender Equity. I am looking forward to opportunities to meet with artisans and possibly administer a micro-loan program. I will start a blog soon to keep individuals updated on my travels (and avoid lengthy mass-emails). I am very much looking forward to the vast experiences that surely will be gained through my time in Uruguay.
	Amanda Zeidan Email: mailto:zeidanamanda@gmail.com Host Club: Istanbul, Turkey, District 2420 Study Institution: Bogazici University Study Field: Political Science (Diplomacy) Sponsor Club: Green Valley (Henderson), Nevada Sponsor Counselor: Jim Frey Email: jhfrey99@hotmail.com   Phone: 702-458-7493 My name is Amanda Zeidan and I am proud to serve as the outbound Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to Istanbul, Turkey for 2008-2009. I am attending Bogazici University where I will be studying International Relations and Political Science. My baccalaureate degree is in Political Science with a concentration in Political Theory and International Relations. During my year in Istanbul I hope to work closely with the Rotary Club in Taksim to implement various service projects. Academically I hope to expand on my undergraduate thesis which analyzes the relationship between knowledge and power within the framework of macroeconomics. I am delighted to spend the year in this fabulous country with Rotarians of every background and profession. Many thanks to the Rotary Club of Green Valley in Henderson, Nevada for their unconditional support and enthusiasm during my scholarship year. Dateline Feb. 6, 2008: My roommates were at the flat to greet me last night. They seem really sweet. I chose to room with two Turkish students, because it did not make sense to me to room with other Americans in a different country...and boy did I luck out! My roommate, Aysun, works as an interpreter during her breaks from University studies. More importantly, her boyfriend's company is a sponsor of the Turkish futbol team "Galatasaray", and so they score free tickets to the matches! =) A huge plus--and I totally plan on weaseling my way in with them--ha! My flat is located along the Bosphorous coast about five minutes away from Bogazici University. It is gorgeous! I am told the university is the best one in all of Turkey.  The people have been so hospitable and kind. Tonight, my roommates and I are going out for "kebaps" and drinks. Tomorrow I am planning on taking the bus into the old city to sight see. It is a bit difficult getting around right now because of the language barrier, but hopefully that will change in a few months.
	Catherine ‘Cate’ Powell Email: createtheconnection@yahoo.com Host Club: Hyderabad, India (District 3150) Study Institution: Henry Martyn Institute Study Field: Comparative Religion  Sponsor Club: Claremont Sunrise, California Sponsor Counselor: Patricia Dillon Email: patricia.dillon@scrippscollege.edu Phone:  (909) 621-9731 “My study program is called Interfaith Relations, Reconciliation and Peace-Building. It is a program that is based on academic and practical methods of understanding conflict transformation. The courses I have are Research Methods, Interfaith Relations, Conflict Transformation Theory, and Community Development field work. The field work is at three community centers that are in ‘hot spot’ neighborhoods of Hindu/Muslim conflict. I will be conducting research on various topics, such as; women in Islam and youth leadership in India.  More about Cate.... A Few Months in the Life of Cate Cate's Service Project (1/28/08)

District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars, (2008-2009)

	Alina Shaw Email: alina.shaw@gmail.com Host Club: not yet assigned, District 4690 Study Institution: Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar - Sucre, Bolivia Study Field: Latin American Studies and Hispanic Studies Sponsor Club: Claremont Sunrise Rotary Sponsor Counselor: Patricia Dillon Email: pdillon@scrippscollege.edu I am Alina Shaw and extremely excited to be studying public health in Latin America with the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. Originally from Encinitas , California, I was very active in the Interact Club at my high school and am therefore familiar with the wonderful work of Rotary International. In 2002 I participated in a Youth Exchange to Monza, Italy, an experience that directed me toward my interest in international service. I just completed my undergraduate studies at Scripps College with a degree in Latin American Studies and Hispanic Studies, along with a minor in Anthropology. During my junior year I studied in Quito, Ecuador and Cusco, Peru , and am fluent in Spanish. While at Scripps I have been active in Sigma Delta Pi, the Claremont chapter of the national Spanish Honors Society, and worked with diabetic low-income Latinos at the Los Angeles Free Clinic. Currently I am interning at The Carter Center in Atlanta for Health Programs Development, gaining valuable skills in program operations and grant writing. In the future I hope to pursue a Masters in Public Health and a Doctorate in Medical Anthropology, working with international health organizations to look at medicine from a cultural standpoint. While completing my Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, I hope to conduct health education sessions in rural communities and work with my host Rotary club on clean water projects. I look forward to sharing my experience with my host club, Claremont Sunrise Rotary, along with the entire District 5300, and thank them profusely for giving me the opportunity to follow my dream of making the world a healthier place.
	Jesse Last Email: jesselast@gmail.com Host Club: Not yet assigned, District 4400 Study Institution: Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar - Quito, Ecuador Study Field: International Relations Sponsor Club: Claremont, CA Sponsor Counselor: David Edwards Email: Lberted@aol.com Jesse Last is currently living in Santa Fe, New Mexico where he interns for the Governor’s Office. In addition, he is taking a Management course at Santa Fe Community College, pursuing his meditation practice, and keeping up to date on South American current events in anticipation of his Rotary Ambassadorial Year! He hopes that the National Committee will assign him to Quito, Ecuador where he would study International Relations at Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar. He sends his best from the Southwest
	Becky McKibben Email: Rebeccah.McKibben@pomona.edu Host Club: not yet assigned, District 9100 Study Institution: University of Ghana - Accra, Ghana Study Field: Public Health Sponsor Club: Rancho Cucamonga Noon Sponsor Counselor: Clemen Sandoval Email: clemen@aol.com My name is Becky McKibben and I am from Carmel, California. I am currently finishing my senior year at Pomona College as a premed student majoring in Chemistry, and I truly look forward to my time abroad as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 2008-2009. I hope to study public health in Ghana during this scholarship opportunity. My interest in public health stemmed largely from the summer of 2006. During this summer, I lived in a rural village in South India and worked with the mother of my host family, an obstetrician/gynecologist. This experience sparked my interest in the field of public health, with a focus on women’s health in particular. I have further explored this interest through an internship with Compassion Net, a non-profit public health organization, during my junior year at Pomona, and my current work with the Foothill AIDS Project in Claremont. In Ghana, I hope to engage the local community by organizing health workshops, which would focus on reproductive health issues facing young women. After spending a year in Ghana, I will apply to medical schools and will hopefully gain my Masters in Public Health as well. I plan to focus my medical studies on international health and hope to work abroad as an obstetrician/gynecologist. I truly appreciate this opportunity from my host club, Rancho Cucamonga Noon Rotary, the entire District 5300, as well as Rotary International, to spend a year abroad connecting with an international community and furthering my understanding of public health. I cannot wait to return and share my wonderful experiences!
	Annelise Cohon Email: acohon@gmail.com Host Club: not yet assigned, District 2490 Study Field: Peace Education Study Institution: University of Haifa - Haifa, Israel Sponsor Club: The Claremont Rotary Club Sponsor Counselor: Randy Prout Sponsor email: randy@rprout.net After graduating from Scripps College in May of 2007, I decided to stay local in the Southern California area, and take advantage of the continuous warm summer weather, instead of moving back home to the east coast. Right now I am living in San Diego, and enjoying my work with an International Non-Profit, Best Buddies, which creates inclusion opportunities for people with developmental disabilities through jobs and friendships. As a Citizens’ Program Manager, I love the fact that my job enables me to meet different people. The participants in the Best Buddy program continuously amaze me and inspire me to take a positive stand for people without a voice in the community. Everyday, I witness firsthand the important life lesson to never take the little things for granted. I am looking forward to going to Israel and studying either in Tel Aviv or Haifa. I feel extremely privileged to be able to work with the Rotary and to have such an amazing opportunity to go abroad and do what I love. Since moving to San Diego, I have been able to meet with a few of the local Rotary clubs, and talk to them about my future plans, as well as hear from a current Ambassadorial Scholar. I feel that the opportunity to go to Israel will enable me to continue pursuing my passion of working with people from different multi-ethnic backgrounds and paving a path for peace in the future.
	Lindsay Slote Email: lindsay.slote@gmail.com Host Club: Not yet assigned, District 3140 Study Institution: University of Mumbai in Mumbai, India Study Field: Economic Development and Microfinance Sponsor Club: Claremont Sunrise, CA Sponsor Counselor: Rich Phillips Email: joannrich@earthlink.net My name is Lindsay Slote and I very excited to be an outgoing Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar! I hope to study at the University of Bombay in Mumbai, India during the 2008-2009 academic year. Originally from Newton, MA, I attend Pomona College in Claremont, CA, where I am an economics major, a captain of the women's lacrosse team, and a member of the Mortar Board service group. Through my studies and work experiences I have developed a strong interest how the public and private sectors can work together to advance social goals. This past summer I worked for the healthcare investment banking division at Merrill Lynch, and this fall I interned for EcoSecurities, a global for-profit carbon offset provider. In Mumbai, I plan to study economic development from a practical, policy-based perspective, as well as volunteer at one of the many microfinance institutions in the city. My goal is to better understand how the fast-growing Indian economy can be harnessed to improve the lives of the country's poorest citizens. In the process I hope to make long-lasting connections with locals and spread the goodwill of Americans and Rotary International. I am extremely grateful to all the wonderful members of the Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club, District 5300, and Rotary International. Your support and guidance has been inspiring, and I look forward to the opportunity to connect, learn, serve, and grow as a Rotary Scholar next year!

District 5300 Outgoing Ambassadorial Scholars, (2009-2010)

	Genna Beier EMail: geb02004@mymail.pomona.edu Host Club: Not yet assigned 1st Study Institution Choice: Universidad Catolica del Uruguay; Montevideo, Uruguay Study Field: Political Science Sponsor Club: Upland Sponsor Counselor: Linda Yao, lindasyao@gmail.com
	Hesham Elnagar: EMail: hhe2@nau.edu Host Club: Not yet assigned 1st Study Institution Choice: University of Auckland; Auckland, New Zealand Study Field: Educational Studies Sponsor Club: Green Valley Sponsor Counselor: Larry Bettis, LPBettis@cox.net
	Rachel McCullough EMail: rmccullo@scrippscollege.edu Host Club: Not yet assigned 1st Study Institution Choice: Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru; Lima, Peru Study Field: Public H ealth and Human Rights Sponsor Club: Claremont Sunrise Sponsor Counselor: Rich Phillips, joannrich@earthlink.net
	Leah Newman EMail: Leah_Newman@pitzer.edu Host Club: Not yet assigned 1st Study Institution Choice: University of Mauritius; Reduit, Mauritius;Africa Study Field: Economic Development Sponsor Club: Rancho Cucamonga Noon Sponsor Counselor: Charles Wright, cwright@partnervest.com
	Christine Shu EMail:  ceshu@colby.edu Host Club: Not yet assigned 1st Study Institution Choice: Kazakhastan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research; Almaty, Almaty; Kazakhstan Study Field: International Relations Sponsor Club: San Marino Sponsor Counselor: Bill Payne, Bill.Payne@cbre.com

This page was updated on 04/21/2008