Rotary Scholars 2023-24

The photograph shows our four scholars in D1320 this year, with DG Narek. From left to right they are:- Yoko, Rian, DG Narek, Josh, Miranda.

If you would like onr of our scholars to address your club please contact Lindsay Craig.

Yoko Shibata

Yoko Shibata is from Osaka, Japan. She has a  BA of Forest Science in Agriculture from Sinshu University (Japan) and is a Master of Global Agricultural Sciences, University of Tokyo

Language(s) Spoken: Japanese (primary), English (advanced)

Respect Person: Rachel Carson, Charles Darwin

What I am looking forward to this year: Going around in Scotland and talking with diverse background people

Loving: Watching musicals, Visiting art museums, Hiking, Skiing

Ask me about: Japanese culture, Green tea gathering

Rian Matsui

Rian Matsui, 23, is from Japan.

She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Comparative Education and International Development at the University of Edinburgh.

Back in Japan, she worked with refugees, immigrants and ethnic minorities through volunteering in NGOs, and working as a member/ research assistant for her university’s refugee support group.

She has witnessed so many incredible people with strong passion and amazing skills feeling powerless just because of their background/ status. Therefore, she is looking into the role education plays in empowering these people as well as measures to ensure that ethnic minorities and refugees are able to utilise their background and experience and become an important part of the society.

Outside of her studies, she like to playing guitar and singing, running, hiking, and spending time with her dog!

She fell in love with Scotland ever since she did her study abroad here back in 2021. The nature, history, people… and Ceilidh Dancing!  She would love to explore more of this beautiful place and learn more about the culture!

Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity, and she looking forward to working with all of you.

Joshua Rogers

Josh Rogers is an international, second year PhD student at the University of Edinburgh who is visiting from Salem, Oregon, USA. He is hosted by Gordon Mann at the Rotary Club of Penicuik.

 His research at the Roslin Institute explores how certain genetic variants predispose individuals to critical respiratory syndromes during a lung viral infection. His primary hobbies include cycling, volleyball, golfing, and playing the guitar as an accompanist or soloist.

Miranda Leggett

Miranda Leggett hails from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where she grew up alongside her younger brother and two dogs. 

She is here to study an MSc in Global Strategy and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh Business School, where she hopes to gain skills related to advancing the Rotary Area of Focus in Community Economic Development. Outside the classroom, Miranda loves to sing, hike, and explore Edinburgh’s many museums and galleries.