Presentation by Ally Vincent, Rotary Global Grant Scholar

Ally is from Crystal River, Florida, north of Tampa, with a population of 3,000 - busy Edinburgh is quite a change! She gave a very full informative presentation with photos covering her days in school, through college, into work and now studying 'Inclusive & Special Education' for a year at Edinburgh University.

She is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Antonio whose website states:

We are the International Club for Alexandria Vincent, 2013-14 Rotaract President and recipient of a Global Grant Scholarship for graduate study in Scotland.  Ally will be working on her Master's Degree in Special Education at the University of Edinburgh.

At fourteen years Ally was a member of her high school Interact Club engaged in various local service activities. Later she was founder and President of 'International Justice Mission' explaining global justice issues to students and lobbying government in Washington DC. She gained her BA Elementary Education at Florida's St Leo University - a small private college with 2,500 students.

Her 'service' activities continued locally and in Costa Rica and Ecuador. She became President of her university's Rotaract Club and, in her year, increased membership from five to thirty-five.

From her presentation, members saw that, in addition to studies, Ally concentrated on 'Service Above Self' recognising that time management was the secret of success in these two important areas of her life.

Following questions, Naveen proposed the Club's vote of thanks.

Report by Ian Greig