Seniors Luci Prosapio and Zachary DeLap have both been awarded Rotarian Ambassador scholarships of $26000 to study abroad in South Africa and New Zealand respectively following graduation from Pepperdine this spring.
After both students attended a presentation about the Fulbright scholarship during Pepperdine’s Career Week last year the seniors were intrigued by the Rotary scholarship having both been involved by the local rotaries in their hometowns. The scholarships are available to all students either in hometowns or even here in Malibu. On the application the students ranked five universities in a variety of countries that have local rotaries and foster international students. When the results came in last fall both Prosapio and DeLap were granted admission to their first choice in global locations.
Prosapio an international studies major from Little Falls Minn. credits her international program experience for lighting her fire for global study. She will be attending Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth South Africa January through November 2012.
“I’ve always loved to travel but after going to Italy for IP I knew that I wanted to do further international study Prosapio said. With her senior thesis coincidentally including Nelson Mandela’s work and legacy, she is excited to apply what I want to do with my future and study at the university named after [Mandela].”
A native Californian and political science major DeLap will be attending the University of Auckland and looks forward to absorbing the unique culture in New Zealand.
“I think the most important thing that I can take from this is to pick up on their culture and bring it back here and implement it in all that I do DeLap said. He also hopes to help correct the American stereotype during his eight-month stint in New Zealand.
It’s not really a secret that a lot of people around the world think Americans are ignorant and stupid and fat so it would be nice to help show them that that’s not what all Americans are like DeLap said. But I’m more there to learn from them than change their impression because I’m just one person.”
While DeLap enjoyed his IP experience in Lausanne Switzerland two years ago he sees this international study as his first real opportunity to discover the world on his own.
“When I came to Pepperdine I was on my own in not knowing anybody but was only five hours from my parents. And in Switzerland I knew everyone in the house DeLap explained. New Zealand will be so far from anything that I know in that I won’t be able to fall back on people so I have to learn the culture. And I’m looking forward to that.”
DeLap also plans to spend a couple months at a Shao Lin temple in Northern China learning martial arts this summer before taking the LSAT and leaving for New Zealand early next spring.
When these two students are abroad they will be required as Rotarian Ambassadors to execute projects in their respective areas to further international understanding and friendly relations. Prosapio president of the Cultural Italian American Organization Club here at Pepperdine hopes to use her previous global experience in her study of international development.
In Florence Prosapio and other Pepperdine students helped teach English through performing a play with the children. Prosapio hopes to carry out a similar project while in South Africa an area where many children speak but have trouble reading and writing English.
“Even though it’s been almost 15 years since the apartheid ended there is still a huge socio-economic and racial disparity there Prosapio said. She hopes to work with children who don’t normally spend time together outside of school and involve them in fun activities that will help them in their reading abilities.
Reflecting on the opportunities awaiting her in South Africa, Prosapio encourages all other Seaver students to take advantage of the many untapped resources available here on campus.
If I hadn’t shown up for that information day I would never have known what the Rotary offers or what so many other outside organizations offer Prosapio said. Only 18 months ago I had no idea about the Rotary scholarship and now it’s changing my life. Go out there ask questions and be curious.”