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Tuesday, December 11, 2006
Staley, a May 2006 graduate and Foundation Fellow from Huntsville, Ala., received a $26,000 multi-year Ambassadorial Scholarship from Rotary District 6860 (northern Alabama area) to obtain a master’s degree in economics in India. The scholarship will cover two years of study. Fortunato, a senior from Martinez, earned a $23,000 academic-year Ambassadorial Scholarship from Rotary District 6910 (Georgia area—Martinez-Evans Rotary Club). She is planning to travel to Bath, England to pursue a one-year master of research degree in social policy with a focus on globalization and international policy analysis. Lin, a junior from Alpharetta, received a six-month Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship worth up to $19,000 from Rotary District 6900 (Georgia area—Alpharetta Rotary Club) for intensive language study in Spanish and cultural immersion in Venezuela. “I am extremely proud of these students and am pleased that their exemplary records of achievement in scholarship and service are being recognized by the Rotary Foundation,” said David S. Williams, director of the Honors Program. “I am confident that they will be outstanding ambassadors of the United States, the University of Georgia and the Honors Program.” The Ambassadorial Scholarships are the oldest and best-known educational outreach program of the Rotary Foundation, a non-profit organization that funds international Rotary club and district humanitarian projects throughout the world and international exchanges for students, teachers and professionals. For almost 60 years, nearly 37,000 scholarship recipients from 100 nations have traveled abroad to pursue their educational goals and serve as goodwill ambassadors to further enhance relationships among people of different countries. While Staley was at UGA, he participated in many exchange programs that prompted him to apply for a Rotary scholarship. Through his Foundation Fellowship, UGA’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship, he has studied in Italy, Chile, Trinidad and Australia. With UGA degrees in political science and economics, Staley hopes to pursue a career in international economic development. “It’s amazing how much more you learn when you’re in a new environment with new people and ideas,” said Staley, who is currently teaching sciences at a bilingual high school in Honduras. “Being awarded the Rotary scholarship is such an exciting honor as it means I’ll be able to study economic development from a developing country’s perspective—a perspective that I believe is critical if I want to help enact world progress.” The extracurricular activities of Fortunato, who will receive a degree in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies in May 2007, reflect her interest in a public service career. Selected as an intern with UGA’s Honors in Washington program in 2005, she worked as a legislative assistant in the office of Congressman Jack Kingston. Fortunato also has taught English to Hispanic adults in the Athens area through Catholic Social Services and Spanish to Sub-Saharan African immigrants through UGA’s study abroad program in Valencia, Spain. “I hope to be a positive representative of my district and the United States abroad and use my experiences to give back to our community when I return,” said Fortunato, who would like to earn additional degrees in law and public policy after her Rotary trip. “I fully support the Rotary Foundation’s mission to put service above oneself, become a leader of tomorrow, and increase cultural awareness, and I believe my ambitions have always been guided by those principles.” Chen, a former research apprentice through UGA’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities, says his aspirations of becoming a doctor fit in well with his upcoming trip in January. Along with learning Spanish, he will be working with other Rotary members to promote health care issues and related projects of the local Rotary clubs. “Communication is critical for any doctor in accurately treating his patient,” said Chen, who expects to graduate with degrees in biology and psychology in December 2007. “With the large increase in the Spanish-speaking population, learning the language in Venezuela will help immensely with understanding how to treat these patients. I am very grateful for the Rotary Foundation in recognizing me as a scholar worthy of such a prestigious award.” For more information on the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships, visit www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html. For more information on UGA’s Honors Program, visit www.uga.edu/honors. ## |
Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia Honors graduate Robby Staley and Honors students Mareasa Fortunato and Chen Lin, a student in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, have been awarded Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships for international travel-study for the 2007-2008 academic year. 
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