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Two Pepperdine Students Awarded Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships to Study Overseas

Luci ProsapioLuci Prosapio

Rotary International has selected Seaver College seniors Luci Prosapio and Zachary DeLap as recipients of Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships. The awards will endow each student with $26,000 to pursue graduate studies abroad in the country of their choice. Prosapio, a Minnesota native, plans to study international development in South Africa, while DeLap, originally from Los Gatos, California, will pursue international studies in New Zealand. Both will study during the 2012-13 academic year. 

While in South Africa, Prosapio hopes to learn about the factors halting the country’s community understanding and development. “South Africa is a prime example of the success of development,” says the international studies major, who will be pursuing a master’s degree at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University next year. “There is still such a huge momentum of change lingering from the end of the apartheid 15 years ago that I hope to experience.”

Zachary DeLapZachary DeLap

DeLap will be pursuing studies at the University of Auckland to gain international perspective for a future in politics. “I plan to earn a master’s degree in international studies, run for public office, and eventually become president of the United States,” he says.

While abroad, the Rotary scholars are required to give speeches and presentations about their home countries to members of their host country’s local Rotary clubs. One of Prosapio’s goals in this endeavor is to stress the value of literacy. “Literacy rates are very low in South Africa and, although English is their first language, many people don’t read or speak it very well,” she says. “I hope to do a project that involves reading with the youth of local and larger communities.”

DeLap, a well-traveled political science major, hopes to reaffirm the American value of goodwill to the New Zealanders. “Throughout my travels I have realized that many countries around the world have skewed opinions about Americans,” he says. “I hope to prove those opinions wrong and show the rest of the world that Americans are well-intentioned and compassionate towards other peoples.”

Prosapio and DeLap are two of more than 700 university students from 70 countries who have been selected for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship this year. As the largest privately funded international scholarship program, the award is designed to bridge cultures and encourage goodwill.

For more information, please visit the Seaver College Graduate Fellowships Web site.