Athens, Ga. – Travis Canova, a senior Honors student at the University of Georgia, is the recipient of the Ambassadorial Scholarship, awarded by the Rotary Foundation. Canova is from Rome, Ga.
Canova, graduating in May 2005 with a dual degree in the BBA/MAcc program in the Terry College of Business, will use the scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in international politics at the University of Wales at Aberystwyth. The Graduate School of International Politics, founded in 1919, is the world’s first university department of international relations.
“The University of Wales came highly recommended by Professor Loch Johnson,” according to Canova. “It should prove to be a special educational and developmental opportunity and I greatly look forward to representing the University of Georgia abroad.”
Since 1947, the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships program has enabled more than 30,000 men and women from 100 nations to study abroad. It is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships program. More than 1,100 scholarships were awarded for study in 2002-03. Through grants totaling approximately $26 million, recipients from some 69 countries studied in more than 64 nations.
“Winning the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship is an outstanding achievement for Travis,” said David S. Williams, director of the Honors Program. “I am proud of his exemplary record of leadership and scholarship at UGA, and wish him continued success at the University of Wales.”
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to advance 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 for 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 Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.
Canova is a William Moore Crane Leadership Scholarship recipient and a member of Leadership UGA. He is one of 30 Terry College Business students participating in the Bebe and Earl Leondard Leadership Scholarship Program, which prepares future business leaders with skills and strengths to add value to their organizations and communities. He is a member of the Arch Society, a group of UGA ambassadors who represent the university at various university functions. From fall 2001 to spring 2002, Canova was president of the Dean William Tate Honor Society, a group of the top 12 outstanding male and female students of their year’s respective freshman class. In the summer of 2001 and 2002, he served as a leader of the UGA Big Event, mentoring a group of 10 upcoming university freshmen and promoting leadership.
Contributions from Rotarians worldwide support students who are Ambassadorial Scholars.
