Georgia
Rotary Student Program Founder William A. Watt, Sr., established a relationship
in Norway that is prospering more than 70 years later as evident in the three
college students from Georgia who have been selected to spend six weeks this
summer studying at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo.
The opportunity is the result of a partnership with the university, Georgia
Rotary Student Program and Rotarians in Oslo.
Isabel
Forster will represent District 6900 and the Rotary Club of Buckhead with the
endorsement of Rotarian Catherine Land-Waters. Vivian Elizabeth Cassaniti will
represent District 6910 and the Rotary Club of Athens with the endorsement of
Rotarian Jane Kidd. Joshua Dean Youmans will represent
District 6920 and the Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro with the endorsement
of Rotarian Weikang “Ken” Wang. Learn a bit more about our District 6900 recipient ...
Isabel attends Oglethorpe University and is majoring in international studies, writing
her honors thesis to examine ways Palestinians and Israelis might learn to see
one another as neighbors. Proficient in Spanish, she teaches tennis to
international students and partakes in humanitarian service as part of the
Oglethorpe University A_LAB, Rotaract. OU History Professor Glenn Sharfman
described as mature beyond her years and discerning in her conclusions.
“As a person, Izzy is always smiling,
outgoing, and nurturing. She is just a lot of fun to be around,” Sharfman said.
“More than once, she was able to help fellow students in my class in one way or
another. She has a can-do attitude and wants to help bridge educational,
economic, and social gaps between and among disparate groups.”
In
Oslo, Forster aspires to understand how these different educational models
exist within intercultural communication, economics, and Norwegian politics.
“I first landed on the Rotary and Rotaract clubs through an unconventional route,” she said. “And yet, I can see the intersection of my interdisciplinary interests: humanitarian service, teaching ESL, mentoring GRSP, Rotaract, and international students, researching comparative education, and much more. Spanning three years, I have enhanced these passions by studying near the multicultural cities of Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and London. These experiences and my upbringing in the public, private, research, and independent school systems in three states and two countries have led to my interest in international education and the varying technological, financial, and political challenges facing school systems worldwide.”
The
scholarship for the six-week summer program from June 24 to August 2 includes
air fares from Atlanta to Oslo and the return trip to Atlanta, room, board,
12-credit hours of undergraduate course work, administrative fees at the
university plus an outing with a Norwegian Rotary host. The recipients of the
scholarship are responsible for personal spending money and transportation to
hand from the airport.
In
1956, King Vakkon VII of Norway presented the brass St. Olaf medal for
meritorious service to GRSP Founder Will Watt, who was also named Knight First
Class of the Finnish Lion by the President of Finland in1960 in recognition for
scholarships awarded to Norwegian and Finnish students along with dedication to
the ideals of world peace through understanding.