GRSP Class of 2023-24

GRSP Class of 2023-24 includes 20 males and 22 females from 24 countries. The scholars are sponsored by 93 Rotary Clubs within Georgia and attending 24 public and private colleges/universities throughout the state

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Explore American Culture,

Explore a New Perspective

HOSTING STUDENTS,

HOSTING HOPE

Georgia Rotaries
PROMOTING WORLD PEACE

This program is one-of-a-kind. We have been bringing nations together since 1946. The program began with only 4 scholars, and now we are proud to say that we have more than 3,692 alumni from all over the world. The program’s purpose is to broaden the understanding of world peace through people and that is exactly what we’ve done.

GRSP News

GRSP Conclave Ushers in Class of 2023-24

GRSP Conclave Ushers in Class of 2023-24

Cabaret, featuring songs, skills, humor, national costumes and more, showcased a variety of talent and diversity among the Georgia Rotary Student Program’s Class of 2023-24 in Macon. Directed by Chair Emeritus and GRSP Foundation President Jim and Lynn Drake, the...

GRSP Names Officers, Honors Jones as Trustee Emeritus

GRSP Names Officers, Honors Jones as Trustee Emeritus

Georgia Rotary Student Program named officers and Chair J. Michael Sweigart honored former GRSP Foundation President Joe Jones with a resolution proclaiming him Trustee Emeritus at the 2023 Summer Trustee Business Meeting in Macon Saturday. Jones joined Rotary...

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The trio of GRSP students at the UNG - University of North Georgia have developed friendships and connections with Rotarians and peers in the mountains, the state and around the world. They even enjoy a common favorite memory of spending time at Tybee Island’s beach together having a low country boil during the GRSP Hue Thomas, Jr., Student Weekend in Savannah last fall. When they often reminisce about their shared experiences this year, that is a favorite.
Pedro Cardoso, 23 from Maringá, Paraná Brazil, is sponsored by the
Johns Creek Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Forsyth County, North Forsyth 400 Rotary Club, Rotary Club of South Forsyth and the Lanier Forsyth Rotary Club, District 6910. He is planning to pursue a career as a diplomat upon graduation and is especially enjoying his Global Studies course this term as it aligns well with that goal.
Klara Jansson, 20 from Sweden, is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, District 6900. Klara learned about GRSP from her father, Mattias Jansson, who was a GRSP scholar in 1989. Klara said she is enjoying her choir class and also loved white-water rafting on the GRSP student weekend in Columbus. She served the Swedish military prior to traveling to Georgia. She hopes to use her technical major and courses to find new solutions for energy and alternative materials to ultimately reduce climate change.
Edvard Larsson, age 19 Sweden, is sponsored by the Dahlonega Rotary Club, Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary, Big Canoe Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Dawson County, District 6910. He also learned of GRSP from his father, Martin Larsson who participated in the program in 1995.
“I believe that a good future world leader has understanding for all people and is able to listen to what they can contribute,” said Edvard. “A good future world leader can also bring people together to work for a common goal, and I believe I will develop these qualities during my year as a GRSP scholar.” It is no surprise that his favorite course this year has been psychology.
GRSP scholars will travel to Pelham Thursday as they make more memories traveling to South Georgia for the 58th Annual Larry Frosteg Pelham International Student Weekend.
Rotary District 6900
Rotary District 6910
#internaionalstudentscholarships
#CreateHopeInTheWorld
#georgiarotarystudentprogram
#worldpeace
... See MoreSee Less

The trio of GRSP students at the UNG - University of North Georgia have developed friendships and connections with Rotarians and peers in the mountains, the state and around the world. They even enjoy a common favorite memory of spending time at Tybee Island’s beach together having a low country boil during the GRSP Hue Thomas, Jr., Student Weekend in Savannah last fall. When they often reminisce about their shared experiences this year, that is a favorite. 
Pedro Cardoso, 23 from Maringá, Paraná Brazil, is sponsored by the 
Johns Creek Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Forsyth County, North Forsyth 400 Rotary Club, Rotary Club of South Forsyth and the Lanier Forsyth Rotary Club, District 6910. He is planning to pursue a career as a diplomat upon graduation and is especially enjoying his Global Studies course this term as it aligns well with that goal. 
Klara Jansson, 20 from Sweden, is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, District 6900. Klara learned about GRSP from her father, Mattias Jansson, who was a GRSP scholar in 1989. Klara said she is enjoying her choir class and also loved white-water rafting on the GRSP student weekend in Columbus. She served the Swedish military prior to traveling to Georgia. She hopes to use her technical major and courses to find new solutions for energy and alternative materials to ultimately reduce climate change. 
Edvard Larsson, age 19  Sweden, is sponsored by the Dahlonega Rotary Club, Dahlonega Sunrise Rotary, Big Canoe Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Dawson County, District 6910.  He also learned of GRSP from his father, Martin Larsson who participated in the program in 1995. 
“I believe that a good future world leader has understanding for all people and is able to listen to what they can contribute,” said Edvard. “A good future world leader can also bring people together to work for a common goal, and I believe I will develop these qualities during my year as a GRSP scholar.” It is no surprise that his favorite course this year has been psychology. 
GRSP scholars will travel to Pelham Thursday as they make more memories traveling to South Georgia for the  58th Annual Larry Frosteg Pelham International Student Weekend. 
Rotary District 6900
Rotary District 6910
#internaionalstudentscholarships
#CreateHopeInTheWorld
#georgiarotarystudentprogram
#worldpeaceImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Photos from Rotary Club of North Gwinnett's post ... See MoreSee Less

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3 weeks ago
Georgia Rotary Student Program GRSP

Georgia Rotary Student Program Founder William A. Watt, Sr., established a relationship in Norway that is prospering more than 70 years later as evident in the three college students from Georgia who have been selected to spend six weeks this summer studying at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. The opportunity is the result of a partnership with the university, Georgia Rotary Student Program and Rotarians in Oslo.
Isabel Forster will represent District 6900 and the Rotary Club of Buckhead with the endorsement of Rotarian Catherine Land-Waters. Vivian Elizabeth Cassaniti will represent District 6910 and the Rotary Club of Athens with the endorsement of Rotarian Jane Kidd. Joshua Dean Youmans will represent District 6920 and the Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro with the endorsement of Rotarian Weikang “Ken” Wang.
Forster attends Oglethorpe University and is majoring in international studies, writing her honors thesis to examine ways Palestinians and Israelis might learn to see one another as neighbors. Proficient in Spanish, she teaches tennis to international students and partakes in humanitarian service as part of the Oglethorpe University A_LAB, Rotaract. OU History Professor Glenn Sharfman described as mature beyond her years and discerning in her conclusions.
“ As a person, Izzy is always smiling, outgoing, and nurturing. She is just a lot of fun to be around,” Sharfman said. “More than once, she was able to help fellow students in my class in one way or another. She has a can-do attitude and wants to help bridge educational, economic, and social gaps between and among disparate groups.”
In Oslo, Forster aspires to understand how these different educational models exist within intercultural communication, economics, and Norwegian politics.
“I first landed on the Rotary and Rotaract clubs through an unconventional route,” she said. “And yet, I can see the intersection of my interdisciplinary interests: humanitarian service, teaching ESL, mentoring GRSP, Rotaract, and international students, researching comparative education, and much more. Spanning three years, I have enhanced these passions by studying near the multicultural cities of Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and London. These experiences and my upbringing in the public, private, research, and independent school systems in three states and two countries have led to my interest in international education and the varying technological, financial, and political challenges facing school systems worldwide.”
Cassaniti majored in political science and philosophy at Georgia College & State University, where she was named valedictorian in 2023. Dr. Harold Mock, is director of leadership programs and assistant professor of history at GCSU, described her as “gifted, intelligent, diplomatic and straightforward.” She has served as a Newman Civic Fellow, one of only two student members of Georgia College’s Research & Public Service. She speaks French and is conversational in Norwegian.
Mock said last year, she completed an excellent public service project on “Bandwidth in the Blackbelt,” gathering data and offering both policy-based and private-sector approaches to increasing broadband access in the rural south, beyond FCC guidelines.
Cassaniti has a passion for service and has volunteered for the past 10 years with a special-needs ministry and an adaptive softball league for special-needs adults. She stated these experiences have ignited a passion to legally advocate for those who may not have the ability to be an advocate for themselves. She hopes to learn how Norwegians care for those with disabilities.
Her career objective is to work in law and public service, with an emphasis on international law and diplomacy.
“My goal in participating in this program is to bring together my personal and academic experience to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace,” Cassaniti said. “I grew up learning about Norwegian food, culture, and language from my Bestemor (Norwegian grandmother). Having lived through Nazi-occupied Norway, my Bestemor taught me all about Norwegian tenacity, perseverance, and spirit. As the first Norwegian flight attendant with an American airline, my Bestemor understood the importance of bringing nations together during times of conflict and peace through humility and respect. Studying in Oslo will enable me to take part in the same intercultural engagement that my Bestemor used to build a better and safer global environment.”
Youmans is an accounting major at Georgia Southern University. He volunteers leading tennis camps, clothing drives through his church, and built an aquaponics system with fish and crops that was designed to be made into sandwiches and provided as free food to hungry students. A teaching assistant at GSU, he strives to serve others, protect the environment and be a good steward of finances.
Wang, a full-time faculty member of Georgia Southern’s College of Business, described Youmans as the best student in his two management classes, scoring the highest grade in all of the three major exams. “I cannot recall any student with such consistency of excellence in my 20 plus years of college teaching,” he said.
Youmans, from Hoboken in south Georgia said he has always wanted to travel but has not had the opportunity.
“This scholarship would allow me to meet a diverse group of new people that I would likely never get to see otherwise,” said Youmans. “It could work well to broaden my mindset and help me understand the way of life for people outside my small town in Georgia. I believe this scholarship would open the opportunity for me to have an experience that would very positively impact me, as well as the people I meet along my journey.”
The scholarship for the six-week summer program from June 24 to August 2 includes air fares from Atlanta to Oslo and the return trip to Atlanta, room, board, 12-credit hours of undergraduate course work, administrative fees at the university plus an outing with a Norwegian Rotary host. The recipients of the scholarship are responsible for personal spending money and transportation to hand from the airport.
In 1956, King Vakkon VII of Norway presented the brass St. Olaf medal for meritorious service to GRSP Founder Will Watt, who was also named Knight First Class of the Finnish Lion by the President of Finland in1960 in recognition for scholarships awarded to Norwegian and Finnish students along with dedication to the ideals of world peace through understanding.
Rotary District 6900
Rotary District 6910
Rotary District 6920

#internaionalstudentscholarships
#CreateHopeInTheWorld
#georgiarotarystudentprogram
... See MoreSee Less

Georgia Rotary Student Program Founder William A. Watt, Sr., established a relationship in Norway that is prospering more than 70 years later as evident in the three college students from Georgia who have been selected to spend six weeks this summer studying at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo. The opportunity is the result of a partnership with the university, Georgia Rotary Student Program and Rotarians in Oslo. 
Isabel Forster will represent District 6900 and the Rotary Club of Buckhead with the endorsement of Rotarian Catherine Land-Waters. Vivian Elizabeth Cassaniti will represent District 6910 and the Rotary Club of Athens with the endorsement of Rotarian Jane Kidd. Joshua Dean Youmans will represent District 6920 and the Rotary Club of Downtown Statesboro with the endorsement of Rotarian Weikang “Ken” Wang. 
Forster attends Oglethorpe University and is majoring in international studies, writing her honors thesis to examine ways Palestinians and Israelis might learn to see one another as neighbors. Proficient in Spanish, she teaches tennis to international students and partakes in humanitarian service as part of the Oglethorpe University A_LAB, Rotaract. OU History Professor Glenn Sharfman described as mature beyond her years and discerning in her conclusions.
“ As a person, Izzy is always smiling, outgoing, and nurturing. She is just a lot of fun to be around,” Sharfman said. “More than once, she was able to help fellow students in my class in one way or another. She has a can-do attitude and wants to help bridge educational, economic, and social gaps between and among disparate groups.”
In Oslo, Forster aspires to understand how these different educational models exist within intercultural communication, economics, and Norwegian politics. 
“I first landed on the Rotary and Rotaract clubs through an unconventional route,” she said. “And yet, I can see the intersection of my interdisciplinary interests: humanitarian service, teaching ESL, mentoring GRSP, Rotaract, and international students, researching comparative education, and much more. Spanning three years, I have enhanced these passions by studying near the multicultural cities of Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and London. These experiences and my upbringing in the public, private, research, and independent school systems in three states and two countries have led to my interest in international education and the varying technological, financial, and political challenges facing school systems worldwide.”
Cassaniti majored in political science and philosophy at Georgia College & State University, where she was named valedictorian in 2023. Dr. Harold Mock, is director of leadership programs and assistant professor of history at GCSU, described her as “gifted, intelligent, diplomatic and straightforward.” She has served as a Newman Civic Fellow, one of only two student members of Georgia College’s Research & Public Service. She speaks French and is conversational in Norwegian. 
Mock said last year, she completed an excellent public service project on “Bandwidth in the Blackbelt,” gathering data and offering both policy-based and private-sector approaches to increasing broadband access in the rural south, beyond FCC guidelines. 
Cassaniti has a passion for service and has volunteered for the past 10 years with a special-needs ministry and an adaptive softball league for special-needs adults. She stated these experiences have ignited a passion to legally advocate for those who may not have the ability to be an advocate for themselves. She hopes to learn how Norwegians care for those with disabilities.
Her career objective is to work in law and public service, with an emphasis on international law and diplomacy. 
“My goal in participating in this program is to bring together my personal and academic experience to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace,” Cassaniti said. “I grew up learning about Norwegian food, culture, and language from my Bestemor (Norwegian grandmother). Having lived through Nazi-occupied Norway, my Bestemor taught me all about Norwegian tenacity, perseverance, and spirit. As the first Norwegian flight attendant with an American airline, my Bestemor understood the importance of bringing nations together during times of conflict and peace through humility and respect. Studying in Oslo will enable me to take part in the same intercultural engagement that my Bestemor used to build a better and safer global environment.”
Youmans is an accounting major at Georgia Southern University. He volunteers leading tennis camps, clothing drives through his church, and built an aquaponics system with fish and crops that was designed to be made into sandwiches and provided as free food to hungry students. A teaching assistant at GSU, he strives to serve others, protect the environment and be a good steward of finances. 
Wang, a full-time faculty member of Georgia Southern’s College of Business, described Youmans as the best student in his two management classes, scoring the highest grade in all of the three major exams. “I cannot recall any student with such consistency of excellence in my 20 plus years of college teaching,” he said. 
Youmans, from Hoboken in south Georgia said he has always wanted to travel but has not had the opportunity. 
“This scholarship would allow me to meet a diverse group of new people that I would likely never get to see otherwise,” said Youmans. “It could work well to broaden my mindset and help me understand the way of life for people outside my small town in Georgia. I believe this scholarship would open the opportunity for me to have an experience that would very positively impact me, as well as the people I meet along my journey.”
The scholarship for the six-week summer program from June 24 to August 2 includes air fares from Atlanta to Oslo and the return trip to Atlanta, room, board, 12-credit hours of undergraduate course work, administrative fees at the university plus an outing with a Norwegian Rotary host. The recipients of the scholarship are responsible for personal spending money and transportation to hand from the airport.
In 1956, King Vakkon VII of Norway presented the brass St. Olaf medal for meritorious service to GRSP Founder Will Watt, who was also named Knight First Class of the Finnish Lion by the President of Finland in1960 in recognition for scholarships awarded to Norwegian and Finnish students along with dedication to the ideals of world peace through understanding.
Rotary District 6900
Rotary District 6910
Rotary District 6920

#internaionalstudentscholarships
#CreateHopeInTheWorld
#georgiarotarystudentprogram
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Being a part of the Georgia Rotary Student Program has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. This program has afforded me the opportunity to forge lasting friendships with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This, perhaps, is the greatest gift that one can hope to get for it allows us to see through differences across cultures and instead find similarities between one another. I feel that such fellowship across participants, both students and host families, is what made this program such an enriching experience for me.

Ali Shaaban Shahid
Pakistan
GRSP 2013-14

Since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia, USA, have promoted world peace through understanding by offering ambassadorial scholarships to international students for one year cultural immersion and of study in Georgia colleges and universities.

Each year, students from all over the world make friends in the United States and other nations and learn about differing cultures and lifestyles. Georgia Rotarians believe “Peace is Possible” and through GRSP promote international goodwill through friendship and understanding.

The students become adopted members of a Georgia “host family,” living on-campus at the school they attend. This is an ambassadorial scholarship program, not an exchange!

Georgia Rotary Clubs sponsor students recommended by a Rotary Club in their home country.