by Katheryne Fields, GRSP Executive Director
Having a host Rotarian who welcomes you into their family simply sweetens the experience for Georgia Rotary Student Program scholars. Just ask the pair studying at Kennesaw State University this year.
Tinashe “Tina” Mukuro, 20, is from Zimbabwe and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paulding County and the Rotary Club of East Cobb. She enjoys playing tennis, drawing, painting, reading and exploring local attractions, such as local cafés, restaurants and markets. Her goal is to make a positive, sustainable impact through her civil engineering degree. She says she used to struggle with math but right now calculus is her favorite subject. She said her involvement with GRSP has taught her how different people can be from one another but still have important history. She loves spending time with her host Rotarian Aaron Strimban and his family, who she says treats her like part of their own family, which has been amazing for her.
Roosa “Julia” Toytari, 25 of Finland, is sponsored by the Roswell Rotary Club. She credits her host Rotarian Nancy Alterman for showcasing both the state and other states to her during her time with GRSP. and with welcoming her into her home as her own. She said her host mom also taught her to cheer, “Go Dawgs!” Julia received her bachelor of business administration in March of 2023 and is now taking courses to help her career goal of working with a governmental organization such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or with a non-profit association. When the current class was asked who spoke the most languages, they all immediately replied, “Julia!” She speaks four languages and is familiar with a few more. “Understanding the world around us is essential for everyone,” Julia said. “It is richness to learn from other cultures, customs, and ways of living.”