Local College Student Wins Ambassadorial Scholarship

Article and info provided by Providence College:

Laurie Moise ’12, a resident of Malden, is the first Providence College student to be awarded the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. She is majoring in health policy and management, with a minor in public and community service studies. Moise will study in Pretoria, South Africa, after graduation, while also serving as a goodwill ambassador.

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homeland to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.

Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation’s oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, more than 40,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices.

Past scholarship recipients include Alex Buchanan, the founding member of the United Nations University World Hunger Program. Beryl Masher was named to the Order of the British Empire and chosen “Woman of the Year” by the United Nations Association in 1975.

Moise has applied to the masters of public health program at the University of Pretoria next year to complement her major in health policy and management and minor in public and community service studies.

“Although I do not know what to expect from this experience,” Moise said, “I do want to touch as many lives as I can. There are many economic and health disparities within the African nation so I want to educate as many people as I can while furthering my education in public health.”

Moise has developed a passion for international service through Alternative Spring Break trips to the Caribbean the past two years.

“I went to the Dominican Republic in 2010 with a great group and worked with the Orphanage Outreach organization as a Health Corps member. While there, I was able to teach public health in a local school in Monte Cristi and was blessed to have worked in clinics in rural areas,” she said.

After a transformative experience, she applied to lead the service trip to the Dominican Republic the following year. Moise went to the same location and taught dental hygiene to Dominican and Haitian students living in Monte Cristi.

“Having such a well-rounded education has allowed me to be more open to opportunities that are presented to me,” she said. “I also believe that the amount of community service that takes place on this campus gives our students hands-on education where we learn the importance of giving back while learning more about the world we live in.”

Providence College is the only college or university in the United States administered by the Dominican Friars. The Catholic, liberal arts college has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 3,900 students and offers degrees in 49 academic majors.