Published February 26, 2005

Rotary Club sponsors scholarships

JIM DE BOOM

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program is one of Rotary's finest.

The scholarships are one of a kind. Some 1,200 will be offered around the world, with four being offered in District 5320, according to Kim DeBroux, president of the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa.

Besides offering an educational opportunity in a foreign country, the scholarships represent Rotary's faith that interaction with the people and the cultures of other countries will encourage them to dedicate their personal and professional lives to improving the quality of life for people at home.

This year, Rotary District 5320 is offering up to four Ambassadorial Scholarships -- either one year at a maximum value of $26,000 or a multi-year scholarship at $13,000 annually. The scholarships are for the academic year 2006-07 and will not begin before July 1, 2006. They may be used for almost any field of study.

Applicants must have completed two years of college or university study by the time the scholarship begins. An applicant cannot be a Rotarian or a direct descendant of a Rotarian. Scholarships can't be used for unsupervised research, internships or full-time employment.

Study location must be in an area where a Rotary club exists. Applicants who apply for study in a non-English-speaking country should be prepared to pass a language test for that country.

For further information, contact the Rotary Club of Newport-Balboa, Newport Irvine or Newport Sunrise. Applications must be submitted to a local Rotary Club by April 28. District 5320 interviews will be held the first weekend in June.

More information and application forms are available at Rotary International's website, http://www.rotary.org.