International relations major Jennifer Ambrose '09 has been awarded a Rotary Foundation Cultural Ambassadorial scholarship for post-graduate studies at an institution in France, Quebec, or Belgium.
The scholarship will enable the CMC senior to spend three months next fall taking university courses, living with a host family, and doing community service work in whichever of the locations Rotary places her in.
Ambrose was notified of her scholarship win last month, following an application process that required letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and an essay on her reasons for applying, as well as an interview with Rotary officers.
Ambrose says her current and post-graduate interests are in development and African studies.
"My goal to become more proficient in French stems from a desire to live and work in Africa in the future," she says. "I would ultimately like to earn a graduate degree in African studies or international development and work in the nonprofit sector. I want to help improve living conditions in Africa and provide increased opportunities for people there.
"Regardless of where I am placed," Ambrose says, "I am most looking forward to interacting with my host community, especially my host family, and to experiencing a new culture firsthand."