Rotarians worldwide provide the funds that make this program such a success. These generous contributions are an investment in today's scholars: they represent Rotary's faith that these promising students will become tomorrow's leaders and will make substantial contributions both to their communities and to the world.
The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation established a number of objectives which provide Ambassadorial Scholars and their sponsor and host Rotarians with a broader understanding of how the Ambassadorial Scholarships program can be effective in furthering the mission of the Foundation.
The Ambassadorial Scholarships program will only be successful in furthering these objectives if attention is paid to four essential program elements. Rotarians who support Ambassadorial Scholarships know that their investment in a single scholar must be nurtured through a careful selection process, thorough orientation, enthusiastic hosting, and
alumni outreach. Without Rotarian participation, the Scholarships program would provide students with funding assistance only. With your guidance and leadership, the program will continue to produce Rotary Foundation
Ambassadorial Scholars - men and women with the education, compassion, and understanding to provide solutions to the humanitarian needs of the world community.
The district scholarships subcommittee is responsible for promoting scholarship availability, attracting strong candidates, and selecting the most qualified scholars with support from The Rotary Foundation's Scholarships
Department.
The Trustees encourage districts to select candidates whose study fields will have a strong humanitarian impact. For example:
• Medicine/Health Care Mental Health
• Population Development Youth/Family Values
• Urban Studies/Planning Environmental Studies
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for one regular academic year (usually nine months) at a study institution assigned by the Foundation Trustees. The scholarship may be used for almost any field of study;
however, it cannot be used for unsupervised research, medical internship or residency, or for employment on a full-time basis in the host country. Since candidates are expected to be proficient in the host country's language, generally this scholarship is not appropriate for study of a foreign language. Because the scholarship is limited to one academic year,
recipients may not be able to earn degrees, certificates, or diplomas during the study period. The award cannot be used to study at more than one institution or in more than one country.
Funding is intended to defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, one month of intensive language training (if assigned by the Foundation), required fees for a normal course load, room and board, and some educational
supplies. The Foundation will not pay additional costs resulting from personal living preferences. The award provides a flat grant amount of US$25,000 or its equivalent. Applicants who request and are assigned to an institution where costs exceed $25,000 must pay all additional costs.
Finding Candidates
Local colleges and universities are the best places to find promising candidates. Contact the study abroad or international studies offices to inform them about the Ambassadorial Scholarships program. Let the study abroad
adviser on campus know who the local Rotarian contact person is. Consider holding an informational meeting.
Another good place to promote the Scholarships program is at Rotaract clubs. Rotaract club members are usually familiar with the goals of Rotary, are committed to serving their communities, and have strong leadership potential. Rotary clubs can also encourage recipients of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards to apply for Ambassadorial Scholarships
when they become eligible.
Promoting scholarships at businesses might provide information to audiences not reached at local universities and
colleges.
Rules of Eligibility
All Ambassadorial Scholarship candidates must meet the following requirements:
• Candidates must have completed at least two years of university or college course work at the time the scholarship period begins or have a secondary school education with employment in a recognized vocation for at least two years.
• Candidates must be citizens of a country in which there is a Rotary club.
• Candidates cannot be Rotarians, honorary Rotarians, or employees of a club, district, or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International. Spouses, lineal descendants (child or grandchild by blood, adopted or not adopted), spouses of lineal descendants, and ancestors
(parent or grandparent by blood, adopted or not adopted) of persons in the foregoing categories are also ineligible. Please note that Rotarians and their relatives remain ineligible for scholarship awards for 36 months after a Rotarian has discontinued club membership.
• Application must be made through a local Rotary club in the applicant's legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment.
• Study or training must be undertaken in
another country or territory where there are Rotary clubs, but not in the sponsor Rotary country or district. (Recipients of donated scholarships may study in the donating district.)
• There are no age or gender restrictions on Ambassadorial Scholarships.
• Rotaractors are eligible and encouraged to apply, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
• Persons with disabilities are eligible for Foundation awards. If otherwise qualified for the scholarship, such applicants should not be overlooked. With the support of Rotarians in the sponsor and host districts, students with disabilities have served as successful Ambassadorial Scholars in the past
.
The Trustees encourage districts to select candidates who will help address humanitarian needs through study in fields such as:
• AIDS (awareness and education)
• Children at Risk (e.g., prevention of drug abuse and violence)
• Concern for the Aging (responding to the social, physical, vocational, and educational needs of senior citizens)
• Functional Literacy (promote reading and writing skills necessary to participate fully in all aspects of community life)
• Hunger (alleviate starvation and prevent malnutrition)
• PolioPlus (polio eradication and post-polio syndrome)
• Preserve Planet Earth (environmental awareness and protection).
At both club and district interviews, the committee should note whether or not the candidate has thoroughly researched the proposed study institutions. The candidate should have goals that are well-defined and realistic about both study field and university choices, and should ensure that a program in his/her study
field is available at each study institution listed on the application. Such candidates help
ensure that the Ambassadorial Scholarships
program will impact all areas of the world through a balanced geographical distribution
of scholars. Candidates should be flexible about their study institution assignment. Candidates with only one study institution in
mind usually are not the best qualified. Most important, the committee should look for the candidate's potential as an ambassador of
goodwill who will increase awareness of and respect for cultural differences.
| PP Lee Strahan (Joanne) Rotary Club of Sunbury Ambassadorial Scholars Coordinator (H) (03) 9740 3390 (M) 0414 751 959 Email: leestonecraft@hotmail.com |
