1947 – the same year that Paul Harris died, the Rotary Foundation launched its first program for international graduate study. Originally named the Fellowships for Advanced Study, the program was later known as Ambassadorial Studies.
Dr. Sadako Ogata – Ambassadorial Scholar 1951
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship was to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The scholarship was replaced by the Global Grant Scholarship in 2013.
Since 1947, more than 30,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad thanks to Rotary. The Ambassadorial Scholarship program was the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships program. More than 1,100 scholarships were awarded for study in 2002-03. Grants totalled US$26 million. Recipients from 69 countries studied in more than 64 nations.
In his book, “The Rotary Foundation – Doing Good in the World”, David Forward writes:
“Sadako Ogata was one of the first Rotary Foundation scholars from Japan when she traveled to study at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.,in 1951. The day after she arrived in the United States, America and Japan signed the Peace Treaty to formally end the World War II hostilities between them. Having seen the devastation of war in her homeland, Ogata witnessed the warm reception of her hosts in America – an experience that prompted her to work for the United Nations after graduation. Her long distinguished career led to her appointment as UN High Commissioner for Refugees in 1991.”