Adam Wilson, president of the Rotary Club of Martha’s Vineyard, announced that Nina E. Ferry, daughter of Michael and Beth Ferry of West Tisbury, has been awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship for the years 2008-2009. Ms. Ferry graduated summa cum laude from Assumption College in 2007 majoring in English literature. During her undergraduate years, she spent a semester abroad studying at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

The purpose of these ambassadorial scholarships is to further international understanding and foster friendly relations among people of different cultures, races, and languages.

Ms. Ferry was assigned by Rotary International to attend the University of the South Pacific, in Suva, the capital city of the Fiji Islands. There she will pursue a graduate degree in education, as she hopes to teach high school English in the future.

Ms. Ferry plans to promote literacy within primary school students, fostering in them a love of learning. She has recently collaborated with Elaine Barnett, a local retiring elementary school teacher of 36 years, to act as the Fiji liaison for a learning exchange between students in Fiji and students at the West Tisbury School. Ms. Ferry will be working with Valerie Becker, the West Tisbury School technology teacher and with Kristina Fletcher and Maggie Chianese, who are teachers in West Tisbury. To prepare for her international experience, Ms. Ferry spent the last year living in Telluride, Colo., where she was invited to be an honorary member of the Telluride Rotary Club. In a prepared statement she said, “I am looking forward to promoting cultural awareness, especially in this time of global uncertainty. I am very thankful to the Martha’s Vineyard Rotary club and Rotary International for giving me this opportunity to combine community service, with furthering my own education and the opportunity to absorb another culture.”

In order to be considered for this scholarship, students must at least be in their junior year of college, maintain a good GPA and have an outstanding community service record. For more information visit the high school guidance Web site, or contact Harvey Hinds, the scholarship coordinator for the Island Rotary Club, at 508-627-8427.