Georgia Rotary Student Program

GRSP Students
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THE GEORGIA ROTARY STUDENT PROGRAM IS A ONE YEAR AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WITH THE FOLLOWING MISSION:

 

P romote peace through understanding

E ncourage the exchange of cultural and social experiences

A dvance the ideals of Rotary

C reate opportunities for friendship

E nvision a world where peace is a reality.

 

G.R.S.P. is a one-year, non-degree seeking program.  Our program's aim is to promote world understanding and peace through the means of education.  As Ambassadorial scholars, students must carry a full load of subjects and maintain good academic standing in school.  Students sign a permission form releasing transcripts to G.R.S.P. that become a part of their file.  Some students do remain in the United States after their G.R.S.P. year is over, at their own expense, to obtain a degree.  G.R.S.P. has no obligation to support them, nor does G.R.S.P. have any control over them or forcing them to go home.

 

GRSP is not an exchange program. In the broadest sense, however, we do exchange cultures and make lasting friendships. Additionally students must pay their transportation to and from Georgia, purchase medical insurance, provide proof of access to $3,000.00 spending money while in the United States, and pay any taxes imposed on the scholarship money by the U.S. Government.  G.R.S.P. pays tuition, room, board and books for one academic year. Students must meet the entrance criteria for the school they are chosen to attend, but students are not selected merely on academic performance.

 

HOW WAS G.R.S.P. FOUNDED?  

 

In 1946, as World War II drew to a close, the world began to see for the first time in many years the light of peace, and yet at the same time, it saw desolation, ruin and despair in too many war-torn countries throughout the world.

 

Past District Governor William A. Watt of Thomasville saw the need for a practical application of the Rotary ideal of International Service; one which must look to the future of world peace and at the same time one which could give courage to those living in despair of the present.  It was only logical that this application of International Service be centered on the youth of the world in whose hands would rest the future of world peace.

 

Watt advanced his idea to the Rotarians of former District 165 - which at that time included the entire State of Georgia.  The 1945-46 District Governor Irwin Ingram strongly supported the proposal, and $4,000.00 was provided - one dollar per Rotarian.  In 1946-47, the first G.R.S.P. Class consisted of three young men and one young woman from European countries who became the first Rotary sponsored students to attend schools in Georgia.  Thus was begun a project that became the Georgia Rotary Student Program.

 

Essential and fundamental functions of G.R.S.P. Host families:

 

  • Pre-arrival communications with the new students and their families - especially last minute communications
  • Meeting the student at the airport, hosting prior to entering college, and assisting in setting up the dormitory "home"
  • Hosting during weekends, holidays and semester breaks when dormitories are closed and assisting in transporting to GRSP events as well as in helping the student depart for home.