28/8/2008 - Student today, leader tomorrow
AFS returnee awarded prestigious scholarship
South Australian student Katherine Radoslovich has joined the ranks of an esteemed group of young scholars dedicated to enriching the social, cultural and political life of Australia. As a former exchange student and high school graduate, Katherine was awarded the prestigious Charles Allan Seymour Hawker Scholarship to the University of Adelaide to pursue a career in international relations as a humanitarian and diplomat. Katherine’s achievements speak for themselves, but she is adamant that her eye-opening AFS Intercultural Programs exchange experience in Hungary crystallised her worldviews and visions for a future without the rhetoric of war and poverty.
As a respected student and valued contributor to her youth community, Katherine says the decision to apply for a year long scholarship through her local AFS group was an essential part of her success as it cemented her work ethic and her dedication to respond to the wave of disillusionment regarding war, poverty and cultural segregation.
“I did so much, and learnt so much. It was truly a life-changing experience. I am so much more confident and independent,” she explains.
Not only did the year abroad provoke her into a state of consciousness about the injustices in the world, but it also provided the opportunity to learn vital skills that she now employs to find solutions to the problems plaguing the world. Learning a new language, understanding the paradigms of different cultures, communicating across cultures and learning to cope with change are vital tools Katherine will be employing in her path to success.
AFS Intercultural Programs recognise that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. Equipping them with the knowledge, experience and confidence to play their part in creating a more just and peaceful world is a proviso of every exchange journey. Dr. Mitchell Hammer of Hammer Consulting and American University recently conducted an independent three-year study into the educational and cultural benefits of an exchange program, and confirmed that the AFS experience was a cornerstone for building intercultural understanding and lingual fluency.
Katherine continues to support the mission of AFS Australia as a volunteer, and has already applied herself to being an active global citizen through her youth council initiatives, music and studies as a Bachelor of International Studies student.
AFS Australia annually offers more than 300 scholarship opportunities and is supported by more than 30 organisations and individuals. Competition for AFS scholarships is high and successful applicants are selected based on their cultural awareness, consistent academic achievement and community involvement. Since 1959, AFS Australia has sent more than 15,000 Australian teenagers overseas and hosted more than 25,000 exchange students and community service volunteers.
Media contact:
Barbara Ratusznik
barbara.ratusznik@afs.org