Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Alicia Clendenin has gained a real taste of Australia since arriving at CQU Rockhampton in February.

Alicia spent the first term working hard to gain a Graduate Certificate in Marketing Management but lately she's been having a bit of fun with a grab-bag of undergrad programs including Australian history, Australian sociology, PR and media and outdoor pursuits.

The Californian has enjoyed her travels to Blackall, Longreach, Bundaberg and Mackay. She is planning to travel to Gladstone in late October. The bulk of her traveling will be in early November (just before she heads home). She will be visiting Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

Alicia, of Merced, California, was selected as a 2003-2004 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar.

She is sponsored by Rotary District #5220 and the Merced Rotary Club and her CQU visit has been coordinated by local lecturer Dawn Hay.

The Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program is the largest privately funded scholarship program in the world.

As one of 900 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars in the world this year, Alicia’s primary duty is to promote world understanding, peace and goodwill through academic study in a foreign country.

During her free time while she is in Australia, Alicia has spoken to various audiences about her family, childhood in Merced and about life in the United States.

Alicia is engaged and is anxious to get back to her fianci, Kevin, who has put up with her abandoning him for eight months while she takes advantage of this opportunity.

The recent graduate of Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

The postgrad degree and foreign experience will help Alicia to be more marketable in the competitive business world.

She chose Central Queensland University for its small size and commitment to putting students first and it was through Rotary that she has been placed in the Rockhampton area.

The small, agricultural town of Merced (population 67,000) is located about three hours south of San Francisco and five hours north of Los Angeles, right in the center of California. The community is known for its dairy and fruit and nut industries, as well as being the “Gateway to Yosemite”. The town also boasts many tourist attractions including Applegate Park and Zoo, cinemas and live theaters as well as numerous parks and recreational and sporting activities.

Alicia has developed a website to promote Rotary and encourage people to remain in contact with her while she studies and travels abroad. The address is: http://www.geocities.com/alicia_clendenin@sbcglobal.net