University Of Arkansas Student Wins Scholarship From Rotary Foundation

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A University of Arkansas undergraduate student has won an Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship from the world’s biggest privately-funded international scholarships program.

Matt Ragland, an honors student and Sturgis Fellow from Leslie, Ark., will receive $25,000 for graduate study abroad in Argentina for one academic year. The Rotary Foundation scholarship funds round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses and educational supplies.

"I am very pleased by the Rotary Foundation's selection of Matt Ragland," said Suzanne McCray, director of the office of post-graduate fellowship. "Matt is a bright, articulate, self-effacing student. He makes friends wherever he goes. Being fluent in Spanish will allow him to take tough courses side by side with native speakers while he is in Argentina. He will be an excellent representative of the University of Arkansas, and I am certain the Rotary Foundation will be happy to have included him in their program as well."

Ragland is majoring in international relations and plans to attend medical school, focusing on international health programs.

Ragland said the regional interview process was grueling.

"It was fierce. There were two scholarships available, one for $25,000 and one for $15,000, and nine interviewees who all were incredibly composed. It seemed like a very long 30 minutes," he said. "But the interview ended on a light note. One person asked me if I was a Razorback fan, and I did admit that I had just purchased my football tickets."

The purpose of the Rotary Foundation’s Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with local Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.

The Ambassadorial Scholarships were established in 1947, and since that time, more than 30,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad. More than 1,200 scholarships were awarded for study in 2000-2001.

Ragland will get the opportunity to be associated with Rotary clubs and he will be assigned a sponsor and a host Rotarian counselor who provide orientation, advice and assistance.

After spending his year in Argentina, Ragland will fulfill his requirement to the Rotary Foundation by speaking at 10 various Rotary clubs about his experiences. Ragland has four brothers, and all are physicians. His parents, Dorothy and James Ragland, reside outside Leslie, Ark.

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