Ambassadorial Scholars

Ambassadorial Scholarships, Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known programme founded in 1947, is an international programme aimed at encouraging those who have just graduated to undertake an additional year of study abroad to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. Nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices and as such has attracted many students to Ireland. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarship's programme. The Club has sent and hosted students on this Programme.

During their time spent with us the Club welcomes the Scholar to our weekly meetings and events and they are active participants with Rotaract. They also speak to other Rotary Clubs.

We would like to thank PP Bryan Johnston who is the Club's Host Counsellor to the Scholars who assists them with day-to-day issues of adjusting to a new culture and society and also accompanies them on their round of talks to Rotary Clubs and the US Consul in Belfast.

The Club sometimes organise group visits as in 2009 when led by President Courtenay the Club facilitated, with thanks to our hosts Lord Laird of Artigarvan and Shane Ross TD., vists for all District 1160 Scholars to all three seats of Government - House of Lords, Parliament Buildings, Stormont and Leinster House. Picture shows the group in front of Seanad Eirean (front row) Ambassadorial Scholars Donna Swanson, Skye Geerts, Emily Just, Martha Josephson and Rotarian Laura Steele; (back row) Rotarian Ronnie McLean, President Courtenay Thompson and Past Presidents Albert Baird and Derek Baxter.

Recent Ambassadorial Scholars to the Club (see menu left for details)

2011/12 Woody Hanson	2010/11 Tom Eisenhart	2009/10 Borjan Zic
Rotary Club of  Minneapolis University	Rotary Club Downtown Statesboro, Georgia	Rotary Club of Montgomery Village, Washington

Visiting Ambassadorial Scholars address the Club

From time to time Ambassadorial Scholars being hosted by other Rotary Clubs visit us and addresss the Club.

We were delighted to welcome two American Ambassadorial Scholars, being hosted this year by the Rotary Club of Londonderry, to speak to the Club about themselves and their experiences on Monday 31 October 2011.

Elaine Marie Joy and Katie Cooper. From Gallipolis, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee respectively they spoke about their backgrounds and how the Ambassadorial Programme had transformed them. Elaine is in Londonderry with her husband Ben who was also present at the Club. They are pictured here with the Club's Ambassadorial Scholar this year, Woody Hanson (far right).

Following their moving presentation they exchanged banners with President Adrian.

We were also pleased to hear two Scholars, being hosted last year by Dublin Clubs, speaking to the Club on Monday 9th May 2011.

Emily Sernaker, (left) hosted by Dublin North, from San Diego, California is a graduate in Creative Writing and Social Justice from the Johnston Centre for Integrative Studies, University of Redlands, California 2009. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Redlands, District 5330. She is studying for a Masters in Equality Studies, UCD. Her work experience includes a School for Schools Summer Staff for Invisible Children Organisation in San Diego, Mumbai and Uganda and a Consultant for Wellspring International, Uganda. She has fundraised considerable sums of money for these organisations. Megan Black, 25, hosted by Dublin Central, from Bloomington, Indiana is a graduate in English Education from Murray State University, Kentucky, 2009. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Murray, Kentucky, District 6710, she is studying for a Masters in Popular Literature, at TCD. Her previous work experience has included teaching English for a year at a High School and over two summers to economically disadvantaged minority students aged 12-16 at a summer camp.