FHHS grad/Seattle U alum Lindsey Youngquist heads for Nepal with Rotary backing

You’ve watched Lindsey Youngquist (FHHS ’07) over the years here on the island, as she moved from the Friday High junior varsity in soccer to the captainship of the varsity, as she excelled in academics, and as she was invited back to FHHS after graduation to give her graduation speech to the next fall’s teachers, to fire them up for the coming year. She’s a leader, whom people listen to.

Now that she’s graduated from Seattle University this spring, it comes as no surprise that the district-level Rotary folks have selected her as an Ambassadorial Scholar for the year 2011-2012. Here’s more from Thomas Sandstrom with the local Rotary Club:

Lindsey: On her way to help out in Nepal

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Selected from Friday Harbor

Lindsey Youngquist has been selected to represent Rotary District 5050 as an Ambassadorial Scholar for the year 2011-2012.  Lindsey graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seattle University with a major in premed and biology. The Rotary Club of San Juan Island, Friday Harbor, is proud to announce that Lindsey will be leaving for Nepal on August 15th to continue her studies and represent and support the Rotary’s mission of international understanding and World Peace.

Lindsey says, “I am so grateful to have grown up on San Juan Island. The beauty of the land and the support of the community have made a big difference in my life.”

Lindsey will be traveling to an area called Dhulikhel to study community health at Dhulikhel Medical Institute with Nepali students.  Lindsey will also volunteer at the local Hospital for Rehabilitation of Disabled Children affording her an opportunity to learn about physiotherapy and rehabilitation surgeries and also work with kids who are in recovery. There is also the Kavre-Banepa School for the Deaf and Lindsey is excited to share her artistic skills by teaching art to students with disabilities.

Jenny Guard Anderson walked with Lindsey at graduation here in 2007.

Lindsey is looking forward to developing relationships with the local Rotary Clubs in Nepal and becoming a part of their community.  She will be living with local Rotarian host families and hopes to become fluent in Nepali. Lindsey writes, “I look forward to developing relationships with the local Rotary Clubs and becoming a part of their community.  I am excited to explore my interests in global health while in Nepal and I also look forward to trekking in the Himalayas!”

THE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN (TRIFC)

Lindsey’s commitment to Service Above Self led her to work with Bellevue Rotarian Rob Rose who co-founded The Rose International Fund for Children (TRIFC) with a Nepali friend. The mission of this non-profit is to improve the lives of children in Nepal, particularly those with disabilities. Their focus areas are education, medical needs, nutrition, facilities, and environmental improvements.  As part of TRIFC’s fund raising efforts, Lindsey painted six of Mr. Rose’s photos, which are now printed into greeting cards. These cards represent daily life, people, and scenery of Nepal and are available for a donation of $15.00.

100% of the profits from card sales go to TRIFC. Each pack of cards contains six different watercolor images. The paintings can be viewed on Flickr by typing “Lindsey Youngquist” into the Search box. To order a pack of cards email lindseyyoungquist (at) hotmail.com with the number of packs and a mailing address. Payment either online or with check/cash can be confirmed through email. 

ROTARY AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Of the variety of educational awards Rotary International offers to promote relations between peoples of different nations, the oldest and best-known program is the Ambassadorial Scholarship.  Since 1947 more than 38,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under this program and it is currently the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program.

Ambassadorial Scholarships support the Rotary’s mission to further international understanding and world peace.  The scholarship’s increase awareness of and respect for cultural differences.  By sending ambassadors of goodwill to study in another country, the scholarships instill the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self” and encourage scholars to dedicate their personal and professional lives to improving the quality of life for the people of their home community and country.  The scholarships also develop leaders who can address the humanitarian needs of the world community.

Many former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars serve important posts with their governments; others are highly respected in their fields.   Examples of outstanding alumni include Bill Moyers, U.S. Journalist; Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Paul Volcker, former chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve; and Roger Ebert, popular U.S. film critic.

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