Global Grant Scholars
The Club has been an active supporter of Rotary's Foundation Scholarships and annually hosts scholars studying in Belfast.
The Global Grant Scholarship Programme replaced Ambassadorial Scholarships in 2013.
During their time spent with us the Club is delighted to welcome the Scholars to our weekly meetings and events and they are active participants with Rotaract.
Global Grant Scholars hosted by the Club:
He reflected that he comes from Arkansas - a state in the southern region of the USA home to 3m people bounded on the west by the Ouachita Mountains and the east by the Mississippi alluvial plain and highlighted its many features and interesting facts. Its 5 regions encompass mountains, forests, and many lakes and streams – in fact there are no less than 7 National parks, over 50 State Parks and 2.9 million square acres of National Forests! David grew up in the Ouachita Mountains area and The capital is Little Rock and, with a population of around 200,000, is 1/3rd the size of Belfast, he also pointed out many interesting facts about the state – a square dance is the state dance; the shotgun has recently been introduced as the official state gun because the state is known for duck hunting; Hot Springs National Park was in 1832 the first land to be preserved for future recreation. Hot Springs city, where President Bill Clinton grew up; was a winter base for baseball training, had the largest illegal gambling operation in 1961 being neutral territory for gangsters from Chicago and New York, Al Capone maintained a suite in the Arlington Hotel and its St Patrick’s Day Parade along its longest street at 98ft is the shortest parade in the US! He concluded that in the city “Hot Springy Dingy” is his family run store selling pottery, costumes and jewellery made by his parents and that as a graduate of Arkansas University, which actually has a live wild boar as its mascot, he has his name written in stone in the sidewalk and, answering questions, he highlighted that the French influence can be seen in its traditions and architecture.
The Club is delighted to again host 2 global scholars while they are studying at Queens University during 2022/23.
Odalis Alvarado, sponsored by District 5790, is from the Grapevine Rotary Club in Texas and Marisa Terry (far right) from Lakewood, Washington State is sponsored by Lakewood Rotary Club, District 5020.
Shortly after they arrived in Belfast Odalis and Marisa addressed Club meetings with interesting and detailed expositions of their background, studies, interests and future plans and both addresses, peppered with infectious enthusiasm, were greatly appreciated - more here.
They have since been actively involved with Rotaract and have attended some Club meetings.
At the end of May Past Presidents Bryan Johnston and Alan Rundle met up with Odalise to wish her farewell as she was leaving Belfast to return home to Texas before travelling on to Taiwan. They presented her with some mementos of Belfast and she thanked them and the Club profusely for all that had been done for her. We wish her well for the future.
The Club were delighted to welcome 2 Global Scholars for the 2021/22 year - Allie Linzing and Rania Lewis (far right) whilst they were studying at Queens.
Rania from Austin, Texas was studying for a Masters in Conflict Transformation & Social Justice at Queen's University and Allie Linzing from Highland Park, Illinois studying for a Masters in Education for Special Needs Children.
The Club were delighted to welcome them regularly to Club meetings both on zoom and hybrid at the Europa. In October 2021 they spoke at a Club meeting with interesting and detailed expositions of their background, studies, interests and future plans. Both scholars spoke extremely well holding the rapt attention of members with addresses peppered with infectious enthusiasm. 
At the end of the year Rania continued her studies in Belfast; Allie on her last visit to the Club, Monday 04 July before returning to Chicago, noted she had been interested in Mitchell House and, thanking the Club for the support, noted it had provided amazing opportunities and that had it been great to be involved with Rotaract.
The Club wish them well in their future careers.
Their addresses can be read here
The Club was delighted to welcome 2 Global Scholars studying Conflict Resolution in Queens during the 2020/21 year. Leena Hornlein from Gilbert, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona sponsored by Gilbert Rotary Club and Natasha Oviedo (right) from Sierra Madre, a city in Los Angeles County, California sponsored by Rotary in Sierra Madre Rotary Club.
Sadly due to Covid restrictions we were unable to meet them in person, but they have been regular attendees at Club zoom meetings and the Club are very grateful for their input in preparations for this year’s online TABU Programme.
Natasha Oviedo spent the whole Academic Year in Belfast and, intent to be involved with the community, was actively involved with the Rotaract Club and the Horn of Africa People's Aid NI providing refurbished laptops to refugees in NI. 
Leena Hornlein, returned to the USA during the year to continue her studies even more remotely but returned to Belfast at the end of the academic year. Before finally returning to the USA she exchanged banners with Immediate Past President Karen Blair.
In their address to the Club Monday 25 January 2021 Leena and Natasha gave a highly detailed exposition of their backgrounds, study, interests and future plans speaking extremely well holding the rapt attention of members with addresses peppered with infectious enthusiasm. They highlighted their enjoyment being in NI and answered as many questions as the time allowed.
Leena from Gilbert, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona (where she is currently) took her undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming. She revealed her professor had been a profound influence engendering an interest in post-conflict resolution and one of her classes featured a lecturer from QUB. She highlighted the broad scope of her Semester modules and classes at QUB and advised she was particularly interested in museum policies, indigenous identities quantitative studies. She noted that online studies pose challenges particularly for group discussions, but she was enjoying her experiences, Rotaract friendships and service projects and was looking forward to her imminent return to Belfast when she hopes to fulfil her bucket list seeing more of places in Ireland. She hopes in the future to follow a quantitative research career with a post in a non-profit organisation such as the UN, an Environmental Policy Group or working with an indigenous community.
Natasha from Sierra Madre, a city in Los Angeles County, California revealed before undertaking her undergraduate degree in History and Environmental Systems and Society at UCLA lived in Ecuador and spent time at university there. She noted that she has been in Belfast since September and was intent from the beginning to get involved with the community and is actively involved with Horn of Africa People's Aid NI providing of refurbished laptops to refugees in NI, was Interning with the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, was a volunteer with Mediators beyond Borders International planning the Ecuador 2021 International Peace Congress and, with other Rotaractors in Ireland & the UK, a member of the Rotaract E-Club. She is enjoying her classes and extending her languages. Although open-minded about where her future might lie, she would particularly like to work in International Mediation, felt privileged to be in NI and was very appreciative of the kindness shown.
The Club is delighted to welcome this year’s Global Scholar Anna DeWitt from Wisconsin, USA, sponsored by Appleton Rotary Club. She will be studying for a Masters in Conflict Resolution and Social Justice at QUB and is pictured with President Karen and Past President Bryan Johnston at her first visit to the Club Monday 23 September.
Throughout the year Anna was a frequent visitor to the Club and attended the District Conference.
The Club were delighted to welcome 2 Global Scholars attached to the Club this year whilst studying at University in Belfast. Ciara McHugh from Milwaukee, studying for a PHD at Ulster University and David Mills from South Arkansas studying for a Masters Degree at Queens University. They introduced themselves to the Club on Monday 18 September having arrived just a few days earlier.
In addition, Global Scholar 2016/17 Laney Lennox, who was sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Shreveport, Louisiana and studied for a Masters in Conflict Resolution at QUB, has returned to Belfast to study for a PHD at Queens.
They visited the Club on several occasions and David addressed the Club on 11 March (see below) reflecting on his home state Arkansas (stressing its French influence means it is pronounced Arkansaw!) and thanked the Club for the incredible opportunity to study conflict in Northern Ireland noting he wants to take this work back to the USA and work with Non-Government Organisations to bridge divides developing in the migrant community.
The 3 Scholars took a major part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Seminar held in Belfast 28-31 March organised by the Club. Reporting to the Club (see here) they all expressed their thanks for the opportunity and experience and pointed out some of their highlights. Picture shows from left: Laney Lennox, Ciara McHugh, President Mark, Seminar Organiser Past President Ivan McMinn and Rotarian Veja Olberatova.
On his final visit to the Club before he left for the US Tuesday 21 February, Global Scholar 2018-19 David Mills greatly thanked the Club for making his time here so beneficial and formative of his career ahead and also for the support and encouragement over the last 18 months. He noted that he had gained a lot from doing his Masters in Conflict Transformation and all the experiences he had been given. The Club wish him well in his future career.
Ciara is presently undertaking a PhD at QUB and is likely to be in Belfast for the next 5 years.
David Mills Address to the Club 11 March 2019
In his well-received address David advised that, having been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sherwood, District 6150, he is in Belfast studying at Queens for a one-year Masters in Conflict Transformation and thanking the Club for hosting him recognises what a great opportunity it is. He has recently had his dissertation looking at how the criminalisation of migrants impacts communities agreed and he wants to take this work back to the USA and work with NGOs to bridge divides developing in the migrant community.
highlighted that it used to be like the Rockies but having eroded is now more like hills. It was the 25th state to enter the Union in 1836 (its sister State Kansas joining in 1861 - the 34th state) and its flag, adopted in 1913, is very symbolic – a diamond shape on a red background signifies it was the only diamond-producing state in the USA; the 25 white stars around the diamond represent it was the 25th state to join the Union; the lone star in the centre represents that Arkansas was a member of the Confederate States during the Civil War and the other three stars represent Spain, France and the United States, countries which ruled Arkansas before it became a state.
The Club were delighted to welcome Sarah Markley, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who would be studying for an MA in Violence, Terrorism and Security at QUB. 
On her 1st visit to the Club September 18 she presented her District Banner to President Rosemary who wished her a happy and successful year. Sarah went to the District Conference and during her time here visited the Club many times bringing her father on November 20.
In her well received address to the Club on her experience in NI, reminding that she comes from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she advised Pennsylvania has fairly similar weather (but more snow!) and that while studying for her Degree in History and French she had spent one Semester here 2 years ago. She revealed she had enjoyed it so much she had wanted to come back. She has a broad programme of studies and will be here until September when she will return to the USA.
She highlighted meeting the US Consulate General and attending the District Conference as well as being a delegate at the Living Freedom 3 day Conference in London in March, participating in the IMPACT Social Innovation Challenge partnering with the Turnaround Project and last weekend attending a Good Friday Agreement 20th Anniversary event. She stressed she was loving her time here getting out and about with lots of friends and really appreciates the community spirit and great camaraderie.
Thanking again for her time here and Rotary's input she gave District 7280 pins to members.
On her final farewell visit to the Club Monday 01 October Global Scholar Sarah advised that she had now completed her Masters in Violence, Terrorism and Security at QUB and, noting that she was returning to the US and was looking for a job on Foreign Policy in Washington DC, greatly thanked the Club for her support and encouragement. President Mark stated that the Club was delighted to have her with us during her year here.
Sarah has advised that she has got an Internship in Washington with the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee. We wish her every success in her future career.
The Club was delighted to welcome 2 Rotary Global Peace Scholars attached to the Club for the 2016/17 academic year. They introduced themselves on Monday 12 September and are: Catherine Glen (on the left), sponsored by the Rotary Club of Spartanburg, South Carolina, who will be studying for a Masters in Childhood Adversity at Queens University. and Laney Lennox, sponsored by the Rotary Club of South Shreveport, Louisiana, who will be studying for a Masters in Conflict Resolution also at Queens University. they gave a presentation to the Club Monday 28 November. Their well received address detailed their backgrounds, current activities and future plans.
Catherine advised that she came from South Carolina near Florida which is famous for its official State Hospitality Beverage - tea (particularly 'sweet tea' which is 50% sugar! South Carolina being the first place in the United States where tea was grown) as well as shrimps and crisps. She has been involved in working with children since university helping children improve their lives in the US and Japan. 
Noting that childhood adversity results in life long negative health and educational outcomes and children are more likely to be aggressive, involved in anti-social behaviour, or go to prison she advised that her thesis included working with Barnados welcoming Syrian refugees into schools. She concluded by stating she wanted to continue improving special needs programmes after school, develop school community interventions, train youth as leaders and promote peace.
Laney advised that she was from Louisiana, 200 miles north of New Orleans, which has a very mixed culture heavily influenced by Texas influences, the streets having names relating to the Alamo. She noted that had wanted to study abroad as part of her peace studies degree and chose Northern Ireland. She is particularly interested in “narrative theory” (how people deal with experience by observing stories and listening to the stories of others) noting sharing stories creates common human identities. She concluded by noting that NI is amazing place for someone interested in story telling and that she is involved in story-writing centres and workshop groups for different communities hoping to work in this area when her studies are finished.
They visited the Club on many occasions and went to the District Conference; Laney is shown here left on 24 July 2017 with 2 other Scholars Kristina McLaughlin, the guest speaker who discussed her recent travels and study at Trinity College Dublin of historical memory in post-conflict areas and Shaley Moore from Missouri, USA (sponsored by Webb City-Carl Junction RC) who through the Rotary District 6110 Kirchner Scholarship is studying for a Master's degree in International Peace and Reconciliation at Magee College, University of Ulster who also address the Club on 14 August.
Laney was delighted to report to the Club 18 September 2017 that she had completed her dissertation for her Masters in Conflict Resolution at the George Mitchell Institute, Queens University. She advised that having done a semester in Belfast whilst studying for her BA in creative writing at Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi, she became interested in how Belfast could be used in creative storytelling. Following graduation she spent a year in Galway editing literary reviews but wanted to get back to the conflict and social justice area and applied for her Masters to come back to Belfast through which she has been researching storytelling and how it can be used. This study introduced her to archives and Laney has done an internship in archive filming former prisoners’ experiences in Long Kesh and Armagh Women’s Prisons and is now interested in how archives help in recording the past. She was also delighted to have had a Masterclass with George Mitchell.
She advised that her time in Northern Ireland had had a major influence on her future career choice and that the sort of work she wants is more established in NI than other places so she is applying for jobs hoping to stay and apply her experience.
Laney stressed that her involvement with Rotary had given her great experiences attending the Conference and speaking to Clubs and she attended a USA election party last November. She thanked the Club for the support and presented a banner of her sponsoring Rotary Club of South Shreveport.
Catherine Glen returned to the Club on Monday 05 February 2018 and updated the Club on her work to date and plans for the future. With thanks to the Club for accommodating her and making it all possible, she advised that she had enjoyed her studies for an MSc Psychology of Childhood Adversity in QUB and as her Thesis had been on refugees she had worked with Barnardo’s Refugee Services. She had a placement in a Nairobi Child Development Clinic training local practitioners and had assessed over 40 children. She was currently working at Queen’s University as a researcher from January – March writing the chapter 'Children in Peace from Research to Action' for a UNICEF book. She wass also working for the Education Authority at Stranmillis on a mental health project and at Barnardos Refugee Services as a play leader. She presented President Rosemary with a banner from the Rotary Club of Karen, Kenya.
The Club was delighted to welcome during the year Global Scholar Kjelsie Hass.
Kjelsie was being hosted by Dublin Rotary Club but was based in Belfast and was a frequent visitor. She presented a banner from her sponsoring Rushmore Rotary Club, Rapid City, South Dakota, District 5610 on her first Club visit 07 December 2015 to President Elect Ivan McMinn.
On her final visit to the Club, Monday 13 June, Kjelsie bade her farewells. She thanked the Club for her support and guidance particularly President Ronnie, PPs Bryan Johnston and Derek Baxter and Eric Rainey.
Addressing the Club, Kjelsie noted that she had been undertaking an MPhil in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation In Trinity College, Dublin and the Irish School of Ecumenics in Belfast. After a picture quiz she disclosed that her home was Rapid City, South Dakota and having in 2009 completed her Global Studies at South Dakota University she backpacked in Europe. This led to her changing tack to a career in diplomacy and in 2011 she interned at the State Department in Brussels and at the US-EU Communications Hub. In 2013 she became a Corps member of "Teach for America" and taught 11-15yr old disadvantaged children – 98% of whom qualified for free lunches and they had a reading level of only 5-7 years age.
She revealed that, coming from a sheltered background, she found this a difficult period; there was a culture of violence and she and her family had 2 death threats. But the 2 children she made particular progress with inspired her and led to her undertaking this year as a Global Scholar in Peace and Reconciliation. Her dissertation studies the link between trauma and truth in post conflict societies particularly comparing NI & South Africa and she left for Capetown Tuesday 14 June. Her experiences have again shifted her focus from International Diplomacy as the one thing she will be taking back is the importance of direct work in communities and working on the ground and she is currently interviewing for a post with Non-Profit companies.
Loudly applauded she ended with thanks for generously hosting her. We wish her well.
In her email she related that having returned home she visited her family in South Dakota for the first time in nearly a year while also finishing her dissertation and started her new job in Jacksonville, Florida working as an Organizational Development Training Specialist at PACE Center for Girls. She states: "I love my new job! I work at our Headquarters office and travel frequently to our 19 centers across the state of Florida. We are also expanding to Georgia within the next year and New York soon after that. PACE provides academic and counseling services to girls from at-risk backgrounds. We are regularly invited to conferences at the White House to discuss and promote effective programming for women and girls, and we were involved in a recent national research project that puts PACE as the leading organization in the U.S. working for girls from at-risk backgrounds due to our strength-based, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approach. I was also chosen in September to participate in a 1-2 year leadership fellowship here through Teach For America called the Halverson Alumni Fellowship. The fellowship aims to position Jacksonville's Teach For America alumni as a force of change in the education movement here both inside and outside of the classroom, creating relationships amongst organizations and movements across our community so that we can become effective educational leaders who will continue to lead the movement. I presented as a guest speaker at a couple of local Rotary clubs here in Jacksonville 2 weeks ago. February is the Rotary's Peace and Conflict Resolution month so my presentation fit in well to introduce this theme. The Rotarians here loved hearing about how welcoming you all were to me during my time there! Our District Governor was also coincidentally in attendance at the first club I spoke at. He loved hearing about my time as a Global Grant Scholar so he emailed all Presidents in the District recommending my presentation so I have several more presentations scheduled in the coming months.
The Club was delighted to welcome 2014/15 Global Scholar Katie Scrantom, who was sponsored by the Far North Rotary Club, Chicago, while she studied for for an MSc in Psychology of Childhood Adversity at Queens University Belfast.
Under her professional name Kale Quinby, she also finds time to be a professional singer! It was in this guise that she performed at the Club's Christmas Dinner and beautifully sang 2 of her own compositions concluding with the whole room singing I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.
During her time here she made 6 presentations to other Rotary Clubs accompanied by Past President Bryan Johnston or Past President Derek Baxter - shown left at her last visits at Londonderry and Dungannon respectively.
We wish her well.