More about the Ambassadorial Scholarship

From 2011-2012, this blog will be dedicated to my year of studies in Valencia, Spain as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. I will be proudly representing District 5280 & Westwood Village Rotary Club while studying a Master's in Energy Technology for Sustainable Development at UPV (La Universidad Politècnica de València). I'm interested in how clean technology can be applied to improve the standard of living in developing countries, and the methods in which international collaborations between governmental agencies, NGOs, and the private sector may facilitate sustainable development. My ambassadorial scholar year will also involve serving as a liaison between Rotary clubs and promoting international understanding and tolerance. Of course, I plan to do my fair share of traveling to see more of my host country and understand what can be learned from their way of life.

The Ambassadorial Scholarship is a 3-year commitment. My pre-departure year (last year) was spent participating in Rotary activities, getting to know Rotarians and other scholars, and making presentations to Rotary and Rotaract clubs in the Los Angeles District. I saw some great speakers at the District Breakfasts (including LA's own Father Boyle), met Pam Shriver at the Beverly Hills Hotel, attempted to hide my awful singing voice when Rotarians started singing, and was treated to some delicious meals. I was assigned a counselor, Gordon Fell, from the Westwood Village Rotary Club who helped me with my attendance at all of these meetings, and I was just assigned a host counselor from the Valencia Rotary Club in District 2203 who will help me during my study year. In the last year of the scholarship, I will return to District 5280 and give presentations about my experience abroad.

Here I am with inbound & outbound Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary Peace Scholars, and 2010-2011 RI President Ray Klinginsmith: