In last month’s District 5710 Newsletter, I said we were in the process of finishing the online application process in the Rotary International Grants Center for our Global Grant Scholarship Applicant. I am very happy to report that Rotary International approved the application on Friday April 21st.
The District 5710 Global Grant Scholarship Applicant selected to move forward within the official Rotary International system is Mattie Vandel from Weston, MO. Mattie attended Kansas State University and majored in Anthropology. She is the perfect example of ‘Service above Self.’ Mattie has been volunteering since high school as well as travelling abroad many times on volunteer and research missions. Mattie has been out of school working and volunteering a few years, speaks Spanish and truly believes in making sure what she is doing ‘will be beneficial to all concerned.’
Mattie applied to and was accepted to a unique Global Studies master’s program (only 20 were accepted out of 300 who applied) through Humboldt University in Berlin. Her Global Studies program is a two-year program where they study in Berlin for a little while, then go abroad (she wants to go to South Africa) to study. Later they do a special project at one location for part of a year. They then move to another location (she wants to go to Thailand) for part of a year and then finish their studies back in Berlin. What a truly Global Studies program.
Mattie is already in Berlin and just started classes. She had met a few of the Berlin Rotarians but was meeting with the entire club on Friday April 28th.
Thanks to our committee, the District 5710 leadership for funding and restarting the Global Grant Scholarship and for those clubs who helped find good candidates to apply. It is exciting to have completed the process and have another excellent scholar studying abroad and representing District 5710.