Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship Names Inaugural Recipients
San Diego, California (PRWEB) June 12, 2015 -- The Frederick K. Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship, formed in partnership with visionary African leader Fred Swaniker, has announced 18 inaugural recipients of the organizations’ signature award, which is designed to inspire the next generation of young leaders to propose solutions to global challenges and change the world through action.
Established in 2014, The Frederick K. Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship provides students who have demonstrated leadership potential, commitment to service work, and academic achievement with scholarships that allow them to volunteer in Asia, Africa, or Latin America through Global Leadership Adventures, a leader in international volunteer programs for teens. The creation of this scholarship with Global Leadership Adventures and Fred Swaniker, founder of the African Leadership Academy and named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, is a testament to the diverse and ever-expanding range of projects Fred has championed in pursuit of solutions to so many of the world’s challenges.
“GLA has a robust need-based scholarship program, but every year we meet incredible students who are still unable to volunteer with GLA due to financial constraints,” said Global Leadership Adventures Executive Director Mike Shangkuan. “The Frederick K. Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship allows for more of these amazing teenagers to have life-changing summers and gain meaningful experience in the developing world.”
For Rosalyn Kutsch, who received full tuition and airfare as an inaugural Swaniker Scholar, the opportunity to spread her wings and volunteer with children in Costa Rica during her last summer before college (she’s heading to Fordham University in the fall) was too rich to pass up. “Fred Swaniker and GLA embody many of the things I am passionate about—international travel, a desire to make a difference on a global scale, and a dedication to learning about and caring for cultures different than one’s own,” said Rosalyn. “I love jumping head first into challenge and using my abilities and talents to help where I can, and I am extremely honored to have been chosen as a first recipient of the Swaniker Scholarship.”
The unanimous decision by the selection committee to award the scholarship to Kutsch came down to her Proposal for Action essay, where she wrote, “If we can make empathy a habit that is demonstrated to children at a young age and cultivated through adulthood, then slowly we will transition into becoming a society that is concerned, connected, and passionate… We must believe that people are capable of motivation and compassion and that avoiding apathy is possible.”
Standouts in the inaugural class of 18 high school students who received Swaniker Scholarships for Global Citizenship include:
Rosalyn Kutsch, 18, of Bozeman, MT. Rosalyn used her Swaniker Scholarship to enroll in GLA’s Costa Rica: The Initiative for Children program, and will spend 3 weeks in Nosara, Costa Rica as an advocate for children’s issues and education. In the fall, Rosalyn will enter Fordham University and major in International Political Economy and Spanish, with a long-term goal of entering law school and working in international development or human rights.
Cara Dienst, 16, of Ojai, CA. Cara is also using her Swaniker Scholarship to travel to Costa Rica, although she will be participating in Costa Rica: Spanish Service Adventure. On this program, she’ll be studying Spanish and volunteering on sustainability projects, including working on an organic coffee cooperative, in a rural mountain community outside of San Jose.
Meagan Collins, 17, of Dillon, CO., will be spending 14-days in Moshi, Tanzania as a volunteer on Tanzania: The Heart and Soul of Africa the University of Mississippi in the fall. On this program, Meagan will provide intensive English tutoring at a local elementary school, and will also work on repairing structures and grounds security in order to keep the children who attend the village safe.
Katelynn Tewksbury, 16, of Rumford, RI. As a Swaniker Scholar, Katelynn will spend 3 weeks in Anloga, Ghana as a volunteer on GLA’s Ghana: Children of Africa program. While in Africa, Katelynn will work to build an addition to a local school and offer classroom support and English lessons to the children there.
About The Frederick K. Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship
The Frederick K. Swaniker Scholarship for Global Citizenship is honored to provide scholarships for high school students to volunteer in a developing country in summer 2015. Recipients of the scholarship receive either full or partial tuition to a service-learning program in Africa, Asia, or Latin America provided by Global Leadership Adventures.
About Global Leadership Adventures
The mission of Global Leadership Adventures is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it. The goal of their programs is to provide life-changing experiences that will cultivate a global perspective and open-mindedness in students that will ultimately inspire them to become great leaders and global thinkers and seek positive change in their own communities. Programs are offered in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. GLA is operated by Terra Education, a certified B-Corporation. Learn more about GLA on Instagram @GLAteens or at https://www.facebook.com/globalleadershipadventures.
Contact:
Brett Scuiletti
Managing Director, Swaniker Scholars
(858) 914-1322
scholars(at)swanikerscholars(at)org
Brett Scuiletti, Terra Education, http://www.experiencegla.com, +1 (203) 788-8087, [email protected]
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