The Las Vegas Rotary Club is excited about both our Outbound and Inbound Ambassadorial Scholars.
My name is Christina Maria DesVaux and I would like to thank District 5300, the Rotary Club of Las Vegas, and especially Karen Whisenhunt, the International Services Director for believing in me and my abilities to represent you as your Ambassador of Goodwill to study abroad. The end of April, 2006, I interviewed with the District and was accepted as an Ambassador Scholar for the upcoming 2007-2008 study year.
I have just graduated from Brown University, with a degree in International Relations and an emphasis on Latin American Politics, Culture, and Identity. While in school I interned at a U.S. Senator's office and worked as the Experiential Learning Coordinator in Brown's Curricular Resource Center. Both experiences played an important role in my college career, offering hands-on opportunities to explore progressive politics and service-learning from up-close.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, moving to the East was a big change. But it primed me to be an adaptable traveler, readily embracing new ideas and new cultures. I am excited to have the chance to study abroad, and am hoping to be placed in Montevideo, Uruguay. South America has long been a place I have dreamed of visiting, so I am elated to have the chance to live there. I intend to study fair-trade arts & crafts, and will participate actively in my host Rotary Club and its community projects. Additionally, while in Montevideo, I hope to volunteer with other international NGO's, such as UNICEF, and learn the Uruguayan tango.
Cheers, Christina Maria equalitynow@lasvegasrotary.com
Born in Pretoria, South Africa on 07 December 1977. He has one younger sister, Michelle, aged 27.
Michael matriculated at Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in 1995. At high school he received academic and provincial colours for Mathematics. During primary school and high school he represented two provinces in baseball and softball and also received the Sportman of the Year award in 1988.
He obtained the LLB degree at the University of South Africa in 2003. He is currently registered for the LLM degree (University of South Africa) and the BBA degree (Bachelor of Business Administration) at the Institute of Marketing Management.
He was in full-time employ as Project Manager with the research company Markinor, specialising in political and social research where he also served on the council of the Southern African Marketing Research Association in the membership portfolio until his selection as GSE member to the Netherlands in 2005. In his free time he serves as President and Area Governor of the local Toastmasters clubs (he has qualified as a Competent Toastmaster) and as the Vice-Chairperson of the Bellville Academy of Theatre. He is an overseer over 5 cell leaders at the Dutch Reformed Church and also serves on the church board while also giving extra maths classes to school pupils. Such a full programme does not allow much time for leisure, but he had managed to squeeze in time to obtain an orange belt in Kyokushin karate and to train for and complete two ultra-marathons namely the Two Oceans (56km) and the Comrades (89km).
He also excelled in general knowledge quiz programmes on national television and was semi-finalist in "100%" and "Blitsvinnig" during 2000 and the national runner-up in "Flinkdink" during 2003.
- Favourite book: The Bible
- Favourite movie: Shawshank Redemption/Braveheart/Usual Suspects
- Favourite food: Mom's pesto chicken with olives and basmati rice
- Favourite colour: Blue
- Favourite pet: Brown pug called Jake
- Favourite music: Depends on the mood
Ultimate dream: To become Secretary-General of the U.N. and to shake Madiba's hand.
Contact Michael Gordon at UNLV
1130 University Road, Box 135, Las Vegas, NV 89119
southafrica@lasvegasrotary.com
Dorm Room Phone: 702-774-5463 Office Phone: 702-895-4088
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