Meet the Ambassadorial Scholars
If you'd like a scholar to speak to your club, contact Bob Ernstein - bobernstein@att.net
DISTRICT 5500 AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARS
2010-2011
Erin “Libby” Coon is a native of Tucson and
graduated from University High School. She went on to earn a
Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies from Scripps College.
Libby has listed universities in Latin and South American as her preferred
study countries. She has an extensive background as a volunteer,
scholar, Project Supervisor and Director in Nicaragua, Ecuador, Paraguay,
and Panama. Locally she worked for the International Rescue
Committee Tucson Refugee Resettlement Office, seeking employment for
refugees from war-torn countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Libby’s poise, composure, and
intellect, coupled with her command of the English and Spanish languages,
warm personality and commitment to her career in Migration and Human
Rights, makes her an exceptional candidate for our Ambassadorial
Scholarship. She will excel as an Ambassador of Goodwill! We
look forward to visiting with Libby at the 2009 District Conference.
2009-2010
Brent Bubany graduated from Tucson’s
Sabino High School in 2003 and attended Arizona State University’s
Barrett Honors College for one year before transferring to the U.S.
Military Academy at West Point. In May Brent was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Today’s future military
officers are studying in a very different way than in the past. After his
sophomore year at the academy, Brent spent nine months as a City Corps
Member with the Americorps in San Jose, California. During the 2008-2009
year he studied in Zaragoza, Spain as part of the Study Abroad Program and
was then assigned for two months in Western African as part of Operation
Crossroads Africa. For his scholarship year, Brent has been assigned
to the London School of Economics and Political Science. Brent
exemplifies the very qualities and personal characteristics that match
Rotary’s Ideals. His knowledge of Rotary, ability to express his desire
to promote peace and goodwill, and his ability to prioritize and manage
his time to accomplish his goals, will all be an asset as an Ambassador of
Goodwill.
Brent is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tucson Catalina, with Norm
Rebenstorf as his Sponsor Counselor.
Christoph Heinzer has a B.S. Degree from the
University of Wisconsin in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from The
University of Arizona. He has traveled, studied, and worked
extensively in several countries and has determined that his future career
lies in helping developing countries build a sustainable future through
business. Christoph’s warm personality, his concern for people of other
cultures, altruistic and philanthropic interests, coincide with Rotary’s
Ideals. Christoph worked for Kimberly-Clark as a Project Coordinator,
Research Scientist, and Mechanical Engineer. During this period of time he
designed air systems to be installed in North Wales, introduced and
implemented new products to manufacturing sites, and found his most
rewarding job at Kimberly-Clark as their United Way Campaign Chairperson.
Christoph has been assigned to Bogota, Columbia where he will major in a
program of Sustainable Development. Christoph’s extensive
background having worked and studied in several countries will be
beneficial to the Ambassadorial Scholarship program.
Christoph’s sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Tucson Sunset, with
Paige Bausman as his Sponsor Counselor.
2008-2009
Edward Walneck spent his scholarship year studying International
Relations at the University of Hong Kong, where he “explored China’s
contemporary search for a global identity.” During 2007-2008 he
became very familiar with Rotary, both internationally and locally, its
projects, programs, ideals and mission. Coming from Safford, Arizona
and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gila Valley, he received a Bachelors
Degree from Harvard, studied for a year in China, and then spent a year
teaching English in South Korea. Eddie feels that coming from a small town
gives you a better understanding of community. During this past year he
returned home to attend the Ambassadorial Scholar Orientation in Austin,
Texas and became personally involved with his sponsoring club. Eddie is
articulate, personable, and dedicated to working for the betterment of
humanity. Our interview panel was impressed with Eddie’s poise,
demeanor, and ability to answer questions in a succinct but thorough
manner. He has maturity beyond his years and would make an ideal future
candidate for the World Peace Scholarship. Eddie will make an excellent
Ambassador of Goodwill, representing his family, district and Rotary
International. We look forward to visiting with him at the 2009
District Conference. Eddie’s sponsor counselor is John Ratje.
2007-2008
Kathleen Mills ~ Katie graduated from Arizona State University, where
she majored in Political Science. She was an active member of
ASU’s Rotaract Club and spent her scholarship year in Lima, Peru, where
she became active with the local Rotaract Club. Katie is sponsored
by the Rotary Club of Casa Grande, with Randy Lessor her Sponsor
Counselor. She has been active in and taken leadership roles in
numerous community service organizations, at ASU, with her sponsoring
Rotary club, and in El Salvador, where she spent two summers working with
underprivileged children. Katie studied International Relations at
Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru in Lima. With her warm
personality and boundless enthusiasm she was am excellent representative
for Rotary and our District. Katie will be a speaker at our 2009
District Conference in October.
Rotary District 5500 - “Out-Bound” Ambassadorial Scholarship
Information for the 2010/2011 One-Academic Year Scholarship
Students learn about the scholarship from Rotary International’s web page, from our District’s web page, or through a Rotarian. Rotary web pages are:
http://www.rotaryd5500.org/
or http://www.rotary.org
Although Rotary International states that application deadlines can be as late as July 15, our district’s applications are available beginning in January and the deadline is in late March. (See schedule below.)
The award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board, limited language training and miscellaneous expenses. The scholarship provides a flat grant of $24,000. Competition is keen, with approximately 8 to 10 student finalists each year. It takes about 40 hours of research and work to complete an application. Our district has traditionally offered at least one, and often two scholarships annually.
At least 2 years of college must be completed before the scholarship period begins. Sponsorship by a Rotary Club in District 5500 (Southern Arizona), with a Sponsor Counselor identified, is a requirement.
Ambassadorial scholarships have been in existence since 1947. All things being equal, candidates applying for a scholarship to a Rotary Low Income Country will be given greater consideration. Candidates must be fluent in the language of the country in which they propose to study and are responsible for applying and gaining admission to the study institution they have selected.
Applications can be obtained by contacting Bob Ernstein (520) 747-2285, via e-mail at <bobernstein@att.net>
or Michael Drake at <Michael.Drake@azbar.org>
. Included with the application form, is a cover letter with specific deadline dates, a listing of Rotary Low Income Countries, and if needed, a list of Rotary Clubs that can be contacted for sponsorship.
Informational sessions will be held on The University of Arizona campus on a Monday and Tuesday in early February 2009 at 4:30p.m. (Location to be announced.) It is suggested that the potential candidate attend one of these sessions where we review the application page-by-page; identify criteria and critical concerns for this scholarship; and offer an opportunity to answer questions.
By March 9, 2009 each candidate must have secured a Rotary Club in our district as their sponsor. To qualify for this scholarship the candidate must meet with his/her Rotarian sponsor, visit their club, learn more about Rotary and its scholarships, be interviewed by the sponsoring club’s scholarship committee, and have the signed approval of the club president. The completed application will be submitted to the scholarship committee by the sponsoring Rotary club.
Completed applications will be due at the district level (to Bob Ernstein) by April 3.
Interviews for the finalists will be held on a Saturday in mid-April. The candidates to be interviewed will be given the location and exact interview time no later than April 8. The district’s interview panel is made up of 5 to 7 Rotary members from clubs throughout the district. Interviews usually begin around 9 a.m. and are scheduled every 45 minutes. Only the candidate is to be in attendance.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A ROTARY CLUB AND SPONSOR COUNSELOR
Each Rotary club in the district is encouraged to nominate at least one candidate for each available scholarship OR be willing to act as a Sponsor Club for a student wishing to make application.
The club should appoint a Rotarian to act as the Sponsor Counselor for each applicant to assist them with the application process and serve as their link to Rotary.
The scholar should be knowledgeable about Rotary’s ideals and should be helped to establish ambassadorial goals. The counselor can also assist by helping the scholar gather information about the community, region and country for use in presentations in the host country.
When the scholarship recipients are announced, the successful candidate’s sponsor should continue to work with the scholar to prepare him/her for their experience abroad.
Each scholarship recipient is required to speak to Rotary clubs in his/her sponsoring district prior to departure and upon returning home; to keep in touch with the sponsoring club during study abroad; and is encouraged to participate in the District Conference before and after the scholarship year. The Sponsor Counselor is the liaison for these activities.
Bob Ernstein <bobernstein@att.net>
and Michael Drake <michael.drake@azbar.org>
,
Scholarship Committee Co-Chairmen