Jul 2018 Rotary Scholar Parker Lawson update

Derek & Molly Baldry  - our founder member - intend to attend !

Past Rotary Scholar Parker Lawson from the USA speaks today. He will talk about the contested and controversial 1st October 2017 referendum on independence that took place in Catalonia. This ignited another episode of tension between 'separatists' and 'unionists' in Spain, two broad camps with considerable variation within themselves. But what has been the result of the referendum and the so-called constitutional crisis that ensued? And what, if anything, does the Catalan example mean for other independence movements in Europe? Are supporters of Catalan independence any closer to achieving their goal or will the stalemate continue?

He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, Cambridge University.  His dissertation will combine numerous interests, primarily education and the cultures, languages and histories of Spain. He plans to focus on educational policies and practices in Spain and Catalonia from 1898 to the present during his three-year programme, offering a comprehensive analysis of the ways in which education helps to shape national identities.

He has won a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, recognized as one of the world's most competitive postgraduate awards.  Created in 2000 with a $210 million endowment from Bill and Melinda Gates, the Class of 2017 includes 90 scholars, 41 of whom will pursue a master's degree and 49 a Ph.D.  According to the Gates Cambridge Trust, "competition for the scholarships is fierce," with the 90 new scholars selected from some 6,000 applicants and representing 34 nationalities.

He is a Spanish and international studies double major from Prospect, Kentucky and since graduation has won three major international awards.

He previously received a Fulbright grant in 2015 and taught at a bilingual high school in Madrid, Spain. Since then, he has completed a master's degree in modern European history as a Rotary Global Grant Scholarship recipient at Cambridge University.

He has helped Club projects including, as a fully trained Soccor Referee, the Homeless Footie Tournament with enthusiasm.