Rotary District 6080 Global Scholarships

About the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship Program

The purpose of the Rotary Global Scholarship program is to further international understanding and peaceful relations among people of different races, nationalities, ethnicities, and religions while pursuing an approved program of graduate study at an institution of higher education in a foreign country. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homeland to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host countries.

Individual Rotary Districts around the world decide annually whether they will participate in the Global Scholarship program and how much funding will be available there. District 6080 will offer one Rotary Global Grant Scholarship award of $50,000 to an outstanding student who wishes to study abroad during the 2025-2026 academic year. This scholarship is for one year only and is open only to students engaged in full-time study in a graduate degree program. Applicants for a Rotary Global Scholarship must enroll in a graduate course of study that is directly related to one of the following seven humanitarian focus areas shown below and designated by Rotary International:

Required Areas of Focus

In recognition of The Rotary Foundation’s (TRF) 100-year anniversary in 2017, the TRF Trustees set out to develop a plan to move the foundation toward its second century of service. The plan, called the Future Vision Plan, focuses TRF-funded programs to specific areas where they will have the greatest impact by addressing priority world needs that are presently most relevant to Rotarians.

As a result, to be eligible for a Rotary District 6080 Global Grant Scholarship, applicants must have a background, intended graduate studies, and future career plans related to one of the following Rotary Areas of Focus:

  1. Peace and conflict prevention and/or resolution
    • Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.
  2. Disease prevention and treatment
    • We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.
  3. Water and sanitation
    • We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.
  4. Maternal and child health
    • Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.
  5. Basic education and literacy
    • More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
  6. Economic and community development
    • We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
  7. Protecting the environment
    • Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy and planning for the future.

For more information on each of the seven areas of focus, google Rotary.org, areas of focus.  Note: Applications that indicate more than one area of focus will not be accepted.

The winning applicant goes through two rounds of interviews—the club level and the district level—and must receive final approval from the Rotary Foundation.  The winning applicant will receive an award of $50,000 that may cover the cost of tuition, school fees (including any health insurance required by the study institution), school supplies, room and board, passport/visa, immunizations, travel expenses (as specified in the grant terms and conditions), and local transportation expense.  Scholars are required to account for all expenditures and must provide funding to cover all costs that exceed the amount provided by Rotary.  All unspent funds must be returned to Rotary.

The scholarship award is limited to one academic year of study.  The scholarship student may choose to pursue a degree program that requires more than one academic year of study to complete.  In that case, the student must personally provide funding for all degree studies beyond one academic year.  Rotary will not renew the scholarship for the second year nor will it issue any additional funds to cover any part of the cost of the second year of study.   Whether the chosen degree program is one year in length or longer, the Rotary scholarship recipient must seek admission to a Rotary-approved graduate degree program and diligently pursue coursework in that degree program. 

The Global Scholar will be awarded one-half of the scholarship amount at the beginning of the first semester of full-time study.   He/she must make satisfactory progress or better in the completion of the coursework during the first semester and submit a satisfactory record of expenditures for that period to receive the other half of the scholarship before the beginning of the second semester of full-time study. 

Rotary scholarships cannot be combined with another study-abroad program, or used for unsupervised research, medical internship or residency, or for employment in the host country.

Applicants in District 6080 may apply through a local Rotary club near their home, or through a club in the community where they are attending a college or university, or where they are employed.  The approved candidate must begin his/her graduate program of study during the 2025-2026 academic year.  During the year of study abroad, the scholarship recipient must reside in the immediate vicinity of the approved study institution in the host district so that he/she can participate in the Rotary Club and district activities.

Eligibility for Application

The Rotary Global Scholarship is available to individuals intending to pursue a full-time graduate degree program in a foreign country.  There is no age limit for the scholarship recipient.  Rotarians and kin of Rotarians are not eligible to apply for a Rotary scholarship; however, members of Rotaract clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply, provided that they meet all other eligibility criteria.

If the candidate intends to study in a country in which English is not the first language, a demonstration of competence in the language may be required. 

In previous application periods, successful candidates have demonstrated the following:

  1. Well-developed communication and excellent leadership skills.
  2. A proven record of success in his/her academic field or vocation.
  3. A convincing understanding of Rotary’s mission, and strategic goals as they relate to the six focus areas of humanitarian need.
  4. Clearly and persuasively showed a proposed course of study (citing specific courses at the foreign institution of choice) as they relate directly to one of Rotary’s areas of focus. 
  5. Well-defined and realistic goals and a personal commitment to his/her intended field of study.
  6. Concrete ideas for advancing within his or her chosen field.
  7. Competency in the language of the country of study.
  8. A commitment to community service.
  9. The potential to complete a graduate course of study at an institution of higher education in a foreign country and serve effectively as an ambassador of goodwill.
  10. Sincerity about maintaining a lifelong relationship with Rotary after the scholarship period.

How to Apply for a Rotary Global Scholarship

The deadline for submitting the completed Global Scholarship application to a local club in District 6080 is October 15, 2024, for the 2025-2026 academic year

An application is available at rotary6080.org/rotary-global-scholarships or from Dr. Charles Sampson, [email protected].

Applicants seeking a Global Scholarship must complete the following steps to be awarded this scholarship: 

  1. The applicant must submit a completed application to a local Rotary club, undergo an interview, and be subsequently endorsed by the president of the local club. The local club can be located in the applicant’s hometown, the city in which the applicant currently lives, or in the general locale of the applicant’s current university.[1]  Click here to find a Rotary Club located in District 6080.  Click here to find a Rotary Club located outside District 6080. 
  2. Before submitting the completed application at the local level, the applicant must have thoroughly researched graduate programs of interest and must have selected a university with a graduate program of study that is closely aligned with one of the seven Rotary focus areas cited above. However, the applicant should postpone committing to an institution and a program of study until after a successful interview at the District level.
  3. The applicant must undergo a successful interview at the District level and be recommended by the District Scholarship Committee to the Rotary Foundation for review and approval.  The District 6080 Scholarship Committee will review all applications and conduct District interviews at a site and time to be announced.
  4. After approval by the District 6080 Scholarship Committee, the applicant must apply and be accepted into the desired university program. The Rotary Foundation will not review and provide final approval for a scholarship until the applicant has received written admission to the preferred program of study.
  5. The application must be approved by the Regional Grants Officer of the Rotary Foundation.

[1] It is possible for a student whose parental home is located in another Rotary district, but who is attending a college or university in District 6080 to apply both in the district where his/her parental home is located and in District 6080 where he/she is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree.

The Local and District Level Interview Process

At the local club level, a committee of several club members will interview the applicant. If the applicant is recommended by that committee, then the club president will endorse the application and send it to the District Scholarship Chair, Dr. Charles Sampson at [email protected].  The presidential endorsement form may be obtained by emailing Dr. Sampson.  The local club endorsing the application becomes the sponsoring club for that applicant.  The sponsoring club designates a club member to be the “sponsor counselor,” who maintains contact with the scholar during the year abroad.

The District Scholarship Chair will hold district-level interviews only for those applicants for whom local club presidents forward endorsements and applications.

During local and District-level interviews, applicants may be asked a wide range of questions regarding their intended program of study, how it aligns with their chosen area of focus, and how their future career plans relate to the selected it aligns with their chosen area of focus.  They may also be asked about the mission and goals of Rotary International and knowledge of future career plans, how they relate to the selected Rotary area of focus, how their future career plans the mission, and goals of Rotary International, and about the country in which the applicant intends to study, and world affairs in general. If the candidate intends to study in a country in which English is not the first language, a demonstration of competence in the language may be required.

Timeline for Application Submission and Review

  • Deadline for applicants to submit Prequalification applications to the D6080 subcommittee chair: 15-Oct-24

  • D6080 subcommittee chair reviews and responds to prequalification information: within 24 hours

  • Local clubs interview applicants, make recommendations and submit endorsed applications via email to the D6080 Scholarship chair: 1-Nov-24

  • The District 6080 scholarship committee interviews all applicants and selects a finalist: 7-Dec-24

  • Scholarship candidate seeks admission to his/her institution of choice: Following a successful interview

  • The D 6080 Scholarship chair completes an online application and submits the candidate’s admission letter. The regional grants officer makes a final determination of approval: Not later than April 1, 2025

Rotary District 6080 Global Scholar subcommittee will review and approve Prequalification Applications until October 15, 2024. If your Prequalification Application is approved, you will be invited to complete and submit a complete application which must be submitted no later than November 1, 2024, including the following documents:

  • Completed scholarship application
  • Personal letter of Introduction
  • Academic transcripts
  • Three reference letters attesting to candidates’ potential for success

Rotary District 6080 will not, in any circumstance, review incomplete applications. If a candidate’s full application is approved, an invitation will be offered. An interview with District 6080 Global Scholar committee will take place at a time and place to be determined on November 21, 2024.

For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with District Scholarship Chair Dr. Charles Sampson at [email protected].

Global Scholarship Pre-Qualification Application

Past District 6080 Global Scholars

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2021-22

Alice Ann Yu
Alice Ann Yu

Alice Ann Yu completed undergraduate work at University of Missouri with high honors and was admitted to pursue a Master of Philosophy in International Relations at the University of Oxford. This area of graduate study is intended to enhance her skills and interests in the Rotary area of focus, Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution. During the 2017-18 school year, Alice was the president of the Asian American Association and was elected Executive Chair of the Midwest Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Students Union. She exhibits service beyond self by volunteering through Mizzou Alternative Breaks at various locations domestically and internationally.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2020-21

Haley Watson
Haley Watson

Haley Watson graduated as 9th out of 1,180 cadets from the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning an Honors Diploma and a Presidential Salute from Donald Trump. Haley was awarded Army Aviation Cadet of the year and commissioned as a 2LT in the Aviation branch. She served as NCAA Division 1 Cross Country and Track Team Captain, pursued high-level leadership within the Corps of Cadets, and majored in American Politics while at the West Point. She completed a degree in International Peace and Security in September of 2020 at King’s College London.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2019-20

Raymond Pottebaum
Raymond Pottebaum

Raymond Pottebaum is an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow and will be pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford. Ray is a graduate from West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. After commissioning in the US Army, he served around the globe in areas of conflict from the Middle-East to the Russian border. His final assignment was training officers at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri where he became very involved with the Rotary Club of Pulaski County which is his sponsoring club, and Jacqueline Howard is his sponsor counselor.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2018-19

Ashley Schwarzer
Ashley Schwarzer

Ashley Schwarzer is pursuing a Master of Science in Epidemiology offered by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She completed a biology degree focusing on infectious disease from Yale University and performed impactful research on different diseases at Yale and the National Institutes of Health. She aims to become a successful practice in public health. The Rotary Club of Jefferson City West sponsored her; Charles Sampson is her counselor and Pat Clark, Foundation Chair Rotary Club of Edmonton, District 1130 is her host counselor.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2017-18

Brooke Micke
Brooke Micke

Brooke Micke received her bachelor’s degree in Biology (Plant Science emphasis) from St. Louis University in May 2017. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Ethnobotany at the University of Edinburgh in cooperation with the Royal Botanical Garden in Edinburgh. A graduate of Helias High School, her sponsoring club is Jefferson City Rotary Club; her sponsor counselor is Arvids Petersons.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2016-17

Molly Matney
Molly Matney

Molly Matney completed her master’s degree in Peace Studies at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland in August 2017. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in English and History at the College of the Ozarks in Mary 2016. The Branson Daybreakers Rotary club is her sponsoring club; Inez Miller-Gibbs was her sponsor counselor.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2015-16

Emily Voss
Emily Voss

Emily Voss received her Master of Science degree in Anthropology and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science. A native of Boonville, MO, she completed bachelor degrees in Anthropology and International Studies with a Peace Studies emphasis and a Business minor. Her sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Columbia; Melvin Platt was her sponsor counselor.

Rotary Global Scholar sponsored by District 6080 for 2014-15

Jenna Teter Guillen
Jenna Teter Guillen

Jenna Teter Guillen completed a Master of International Law degree at the Australian National University in Canberra. A native of California, she is a graduate of Westminster College where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Transnational Studies. The Fulton Rotary Club was her sponsoring club, and Ray Brown was her sponsor counselor.

Rotary Global Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2013-14

Christopher Clark
Christopher Clark

Christopher Clark completed a Master of Philosophy degree in Developmental Studies with a focus on microfinance in St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. Before departing for study in England, he was Fulbright Scholar to Chile during 2012-13. A native of Springfield, he earned an undergraduate degree in Political Science at Tulane University. Springfield Rotary Club was his sponsoring club, and Stanley Adamson served as his sponsor counselor. He is currently Coordinator of the District Attorney of New York City Academy.

Maddie Callis
Maddie Callis

Maddie Callis studied International Business Administration at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Prior to that she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Rhodes College, Memphis, TN. Formerly International Operations Coordinator, Children’s Radio Foundation, New York City, she is currently a graduate student at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Her sponsoring club was Columbia South Rotary; Susan Hart was her sponsor counselor.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2012-13

Marissa Fugate
Marissa Fugate

Marissa Fugate, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar, will study the literature of violence at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. A native of Bowling Green, KY, she is working on two doctoral degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Missouri. She holds degrees from the University of Kentucky, University of Arkansas, and Boston University. The Columbia Metro Rotary Club is her sponsoring club, and James Spieler is her sponsor counselor.

Amy Williams
Amy Williams

Amy Williams, an Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar, is currently a third-year law student pursuing the Juris Doctorate degree at the University of Missouri. She plans to study international law and human rights at the Universiteit Utrecht (Utrecht University) in The Netherlands. She is a graduate of Rock Bridge High School in Columbia and holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a graduate certificate in non-profit management from the University of Missouri. Her sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Columbia; host counselor is Melvin Platt.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2011-12

Nicholas Reasor
Nicholas Reasor

Nicholas Reasor, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar. He will pursue study in International Business with emphasis on Economic Development and Sustainability at the INCAE Business School in La Garita, Alajuela, Costa Rica. He is a graduate of Nixa (MO) High School and Evangel University. His sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Springfield. George Crawford is his sponsor counselor.

Gregory Rockson
Gregory Rockson

Gregory Rockson, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar is studying International Diplomacy at the University of Copenhagen. Gregory is a native of Ghana where he received his elementary and secondary education. He is a senior at Westminster College in Fulton. He hopes to eventually earn a doctoral degree and pursuing a career as a diplomat at the United Nations. His sponsoring club is the Fulton Rotary Club, where his sponsor counselor is Ray Brown.

Judith Rowland
Judith Rowland

Judith Rowland, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science where she is studying Political Science and International Development. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science at Missouri State University. As a part of her degree program at MSU, she spent one semester each in study at the University of Central Lancaster (England), the University of Ghana in Accra, the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, and a university in Quingdao, China. Her sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Springfield, and her sponsor counselor is Stanley Adamson. His sponsoring club is the Fulton Rotary Club, where his sponsor counselor is Ray Brown.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2010-11

Katherine Rhoades
Katherine Rhoades

Katherine Rhoades, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She is pursuing study in International Business Management. She is a senior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Her sponsoring club is Springfield North Rotary Club. Marvin Johnson is serving as her sponsor counselor. Her sponsoring club is the Rotary Club of Springfield, and her sponsor counselor is Stanley Adamson. His sponsoring club is the Fulton Rotary Club, where his sponsor counselor is Ray Brown.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2009-10

Lora Dean
Lora Dean

Lora Dean, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, where she studied International Relations and Diplomacy during the spring and fall of 2010. She continued her studies a second year at the University of Queensland and completed her master’s degree in International Studies with an Emphasis in Peace and Conflict Resolution in December 2011. She is a 2009 graduate of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Sponsoring club: Harrisonvile Rotary Club; her sponsor counselor is John Foster.

Ashley Rowan
Ashley Rowan

Ashley Rowan, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, where she studied Business Administration and International Relations. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Business degree with minors in Spanish and Global Studies at Drury University in 2011. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English at Missouri State University. Sponsoring club: Springfield Sunrise Rotary Club; John Himmel is her sponsor counselor.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2008-09

Kara Martin
Kara Martin

Kara Martin, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand where she studied Spanish, Linguistics, and International business during the spring and fall of 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Sponsoring club: Springfield Southeast; her sponsor counselor was Dennis Whaley.

Brian Pellot
Brian Pellot

Brian Pellot, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar at the American University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He completed course work in Arabic, Middle Eastern Studies, and Journalism during Fall 2008 and Spring 2009. Between semesters, he presented at clubs in Egypt, Cypress, and Lebanon, attended two club meetings as well a Rotaract club meeting in Jordan, and participated in a club meeting in Armenia and another in Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree in Convergence Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies from the University of Missouri in May 2010. During his senior year, he won a George Marshall Scholarship to study at Oxford University for two years. Sponsoring club: Columbia South; his sponsor counselor was James Scott.

Ambassadorial Scholars sponsored by District 6080 for 2007-08

Shannon Davis
Shannon Davis

Shannon Davis, Six-Month Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar at the American University in Cairo, Egypt where she studied Arabic from January through June 2008. She received permission from the Rotary Foundation to remain in Cairo until December 2008 to complete further study of Arabic at her own expense. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with minors in International Relations and Music at Evangel University. Sponsoring club: Springfield Rotary Club. Guy Mace was her sponsor counselor.

Erin Crabb
Erin Crabb

Erin Crabb, Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholar to Ruprecht-Karls Universität in Heidelberg, Germany, where she studied German, German Literature, and German Culture and History from September 2007 to May 2008. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in German and Music from Illinois Wesleyan University in May 2006. Sponsoring club: Rotary Club of Columbia; her sponsor counselor was Melvin Platt. Sponsoring club: Springfield Rotary Club. Guy Mace was her sponsor counselor.