FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (8/05)
Contact: Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Johnson, Centenary News Service, 318-841-7265

Centenary Alumnae Receive Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships for 2005-06

	Anne-Marie Bruner, '95

SHREVEPORT, LA — Anne-Marie Bruner of the Centenary College Class of ’95 and Ashley Lacy, Class of ’04, have received Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships for the 2005-06 academic year.

Intended to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries, Rotary scholarships help cover round-trip transportation, one month of intensive language training, required academic fees for a normal course load, room and board expenses and some educational supplies. Generally, awards range between $11,000 and $23,000 depending upon actual costs at the assigned study institution.

Upon completion of the program, scholarship recipients are asked to share their experiences with people in their home countries and with the local Rotarians who sponsored their scholarship.

Ms. Bruner of Bossier City earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Centenary. She will begin studies next month at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, pursuing a master’s degree in applied linguistics. Her decision to apply for the Rotary scholarship was based on her ultimate career goal of working in the field of international education. Through her work during the past six years in the Offices of Admissions and Intercultural Affairs at Centenary, Ms. Bruner has developed an extensive knowledge of U.S. higher education admission and immigration practices. She hopes to polish educational and linguistic skills as she studies in Wales. Ms. Bruner is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Shreveport, District 6190, and hosted by Llandaff Rotary Club (Cardiff), District 1150.

Ashley Lacy, '04

Ms. Lacy of Marshall, Texas, graduated from Centenary in December 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with a minor in Spanish. She plans to take classes in chemistry, music, Spanish culture and literature during a nine-month program at the Universidad de Guanajuato in Guanajuato, Mexico. She applied for the Rotary scholarship in order to study in a Spanish-speaking country.

Ms. Lacy aspires to achieve fluency in Spanish to use in her future career in science education. She hopes to work as a scientific journalist and educator who makes science more approachable to the general public. Reaching a broad North American audience consisting of Americans and Latin Americans, Ms. Lacy anticipates the benefits of being familiar with Spanish culture and language. She is sponsored by Rotary Club District 5830 and hosted by Rotary Club District 4160.

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