Jenna Teter, Rotary International Scholarship Winner

Jenna Teter, Class of 2014, will pursue her dreams of studying abroad after being chosen to receive a $30,000 Global Scholars scholarship from District 6080 of Rotary International.

The scholarship is limited to one year of study but can cover the cost of tuition, fees, educational supplies, room and board and round trip transportation to/from the study site.

“I never thought I would be one of those privileged and blessed individuals to receive a scholarship like the one from the Rotary Foundation,” says Teter, from Fresno, CA.  “I could not be more grateful for this opportunity to pursue my wild and crazy dreams as this scholarship takes me one step closer to hopefully achieving them.”

Teter sent her application to the Fulton Rotary Club and was interviewed before moving on to the District Scholarship Committee, who evaluated her application and interviewed her and the other applicants before sending the recommendation to Rotary Foundation for a final decision.

Teter plans to earn an M.S. degree in international relations at the London School of Economics.

These Global Scholarships must be used for study in a graduate degree program pertaining to the humanitarian areas of peace and conflict prevention and/or resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy or economic and community development.

The purpose of the Rotary 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 their4 homeland to Rotary Clubs and other groups.  Upon returning home, they share the experiences that led them to a greater understanding of their host countries with Rotarians and others.

A transnational studies major, Teter wrote her thesis on apartheid and South Africa. She worked as a student assistant for two years at the Churchill Institute for Global Engagement. She also has been a member of the Blue Diamond Dance Team at Westminster and named to Who’s Who among Students in American Colleges and Universities.  Last summer, she helped to set up the Kibungo Rotary Club in Rwanda.

“Almost every day I am still amazed to have been chosen,” says Teter.  “Thank you to all who helped plant these dreams in me and continued pushing me toward them.”