Georgia (USA) Rotary Student Program

Since 1946, Rotarians in Georgia, USA, have promoted world peace through understanding by offering scholarships to international students for one year of study in Georgia colleges and universities.  Georgia Rotary Clubs sponsor students recommended by a Rotary Club in their home country.  The students become adopted members of a Georgia "host family," but live on-campus at the College/University school they attend.

This is a scholarship program, not an exchange.  Each year, some 40 to 50 students from all over the world make friends in the United States and learn about differing cultures and lifestyles.  Georgia Rotarians believe "Peace is Possible" and through GRSP promote international goodwill through the bonds of friendship and understanding.

Funding to make all of this possible comes from individual Rotarians in Georgia, USA regularly donating to a central fund.  All applicants are given serious and equal consideration by the Rotary Clubs in Georgia.  Obviously, not all applicants are successful in being awarded a placement but Scotland often fares very well in the selection process and our District’s Rotary Clubs have been awarded several places in most pre-Covid years.

Information Evening

Annually, the District has provided interested applicants and their parents, plus interested Rotarians, with an opportunity to learn more about what is on offer by running a GRSP Information Evening.  However, given the continuing coronavirus concerns such an Information Evening will not be possible this year (2022).  All necessary information is available on the GRSP website via grsp.org and through information in the documents below.

2023-24 placements

Clubs should now be active in seeking applicants for a 2023-24 one-year placement at a funded university college in Georgia, USA

• Use the attached files, including a PowerPoint presentation, available on this site to inform Club members of what is on offer.
• Use the sample head teacher letter to get the interest of pupils who will be in S6 in 2022-23 in applying now. 
• A school notice board flyer and a pupil GRSP information sheet is provided to be used in schools (red text needs individual Club details to be inserted).
• An exemplar of the GRSP application form is available on the GRSP website from early June 2022.  An example of a previous year’s application form is on the District website but this may change slightly for 2022 and will need to be downloaded from the GRSP website once available.
• GRSP is one of Rotary’s best kept secrets!  It is open to relatives of Rotarians.
• Further information can be found at www.grsp.org.
• The District’s current GRSP Coordinator, PDG Alistair Marquis, can be contacted for advice via afmarquis@blueyonder.co.uk.

Documents

Exemplar letter to secondary school head teacher
School GRSP Notice Board Flyer
GRSP information note to prospective applicants (must be 18 by 1 August 2023)
GRSP PowerPoint presentation
Example of the Teacher reference form required to be completed for applicant.
Example of the GRSP online application form (for a previous year - 2022 version available online after early June 2022).