Philip Munksgaard on the left receives a token of appreciation from Rotary Club President Tina Hollcroft on the right. Philip is from Copenhagen Denmark and is one of 20 foreign students in the Georgia Rotary Student Program who will be studying in Georgia this year

Each year since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia have invited international students from around the globe to spend one academic year at a college or university in Georgia.  Celebrating its 65th birthday this year, the Georgia Rotary Student Program has welcomed over the years 3,307 students from 107 countries.  The program is funded solely by Georgia Rotarians, Georgia Rotary Clubs, and friends of GRSP.

GRSP is an all-expenses-paid ambassadorial program, not an exchange-student program.  During their year of study, these scholars learn as much, or more, about life in America and Georgia, as they do in their studies.  Friendships are formed that last a lifetime, often between students of countries (such as Greece and Cyprus, to cite just one example) with less than cordial relations toward one another.  In addition to their studies this year at 20 colleges and universities across Georgia, these students gather together, at different sites around the state of Georgia, on approximately ten weekends during their year to become better acquainted and learn more about Rotary and about our culture.

In practice, GRSP is a two-way ambassadorial program.  During their stay in Georgia, these students are ambassadors of their native countries.  When they return home after their year in Georgia, they serve as excellent ambassadors for The United States of America.  Developed in the aftermath of World War II, GRSP has as its primary goal the development of world peace through understanding.

Each student has a “host family” which serves as the student’s home-away-from-home while in Georgia.  This year Rotarian Christine Schmidt and her husband, Cuscowilla Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage, Gerald Schmidt, are the local host family for Philip Munksgaard.  Philip attends Augusta State University, and has already made his first visit to the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties, where he presented an interesting program about his life and home country.  

Anyone interested in learning more about The Georgia Rotary Student Program may do so, by linking to www.grsp.org, or by contacting a local Rotarian.

Rotary is an exemplary community organization of businessmen, women and professionals who seek to serve the communities in which they work and live.  The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.  For more information on Rotary of Greene and Putnam counties please visit www.GreenePutnamRotary.org.