Anna Phillips Named Rotary
"Ambassador" for 2009-10 Anna Philips


Parkersburg, W.Va., native Anna Phillips has been awarded the 2009-2010 Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship by Rotary International District 7530. The award is for three months of intensive language study in another country. Phillips is a senior at West Virginia University, majoring in Public Relations and Spanish, and will be studying French at the Institute of Language and Communication in Agdal, Rabat Morrocco.
 
Valued at a maximum level of $12,000, the award covers round-trip transportation and language training. The scholarship is designed to promote and strengthen international understanding and goodwill.While abroad, Cultural Ambassadorial Scholars have a unique opportunity for cultural immersion; they live with Rotarians and their families in their host city.

“Rotary International's Ambassadorial Scholarship program is giving me one of the best and most exciting experiences I could ask for: time in another culture to serve and learn,” said Phillips. “I'm so excited to represent R.I. and West Virginia in such an exotic location. I've always traveled, but an immersion experience will be totally different for me.”


 Students may study abroad in any country where Rotary is present, and the proposed language of study is spoken. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish. Scholars are expected to have completed at least one year of study in their proposed language before traveling abroad.

"Anna's past experiences abroad, community involvement, and her outgoing personality, made her the ideal candidate for a Cultural Scholarship to further her education," said District Governor-Elect Jody Light. Phillips is President and Founder of Students Going Global at WVU, an organization dedicated to exploring and highlighting international issues, and encouraging participation in service-learning opportunities, both locally and globally. Phillips also works as an intern for Amizade Global Service- Learning Consortium.

Approximately 800 Ambassadorial scholarships are awarded around the world each year by the Rotary Foundation. Founded in 1947, today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. The program has sponsored more than 39,000 Rotary Scholars since its inception.

Students who are either from, or studying in, the 29 West Virginia counties which comprise District 7530 are eligible to apply for scholarships within this RI District.

If you are interested in applying for a similar Rotary scholarship from our district click on Ambassador Scholarships. Applications for 2010-11 are due June 30, 2009.