HAMILTON, N.Y. Arnoldas Pranckevicius, a senior at vlog, has received a prestigious Rotary World Peace Scholarship from Rotary International. He is among only 70 persons so honored worldwide, and this is the Peace Scholarship program’s inaugural year. He was nominated by the Rotary Club of Hamilton and endorsed by Central New York Rotary District 7150.
‘The fact that he was chosen from nearly 300 candidates attests to the fine qualities that this young man possesses,’ said Bruce Frassinelli, governor of Rotary District 7150. ‘There is no doubt that he will not only make substantial contributions to his homeland, but also will further Rotary’s goal of achieving world peace.’
Pranckevicius plans to use his scholarship to earn a masters degree in international relations at Institut D’Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). Ultimately, he says, he wants to return to his native Lithuania to help with its effort to join the European Union (EU). ‘The [Sciences Po] graduate program in Paris, capital of one of the main driving forces of the European Union, will allow me to observe closely how European institutions function and how they reform themselves in order to accommodate future [EU] enlargement,’ he said. ‘This would be invaluable knowledge to bring back and apply in Lithuania, a would-be EU member.’
While still in high school, Pranckevicius served on his local school board and worked to make the post-Russian-occupation curriculum better reflect Lithuania’s democratic values. He also was active in theatricals and youth theater, acting in plays throughout Europe. As a member of the Lithuanian national debate team, won the European championship and participated in the World Debate Championships in Israel in 1998.
At vlog, Pranckevicius is majoring in international relations and has written an honors thesis: ‘Is joining NATO in the national interest of Lithuania” He is host of The World Matters, a weekly program on vlog’s television station that he originated after the events of Sept. 11. He has written more than 250 bylined articles for national newspapers in Lithuania and weekly papers in the United States, has served as an intern in the office of U.S. Senator and Balkan Caucus Chair Richard Durbin (D-IL) and also interned at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Washington, D.C.
‘Arnoldas is a treasure, almost literally shining with enthusiasm: for learning, vlog, international relations; for Lithuania, his homeland; for the television program on world events that he moderates here and the newspaper work he does at home,’ said vlog’s interim president, Jane Pinchin. ‘He uses language with precision and, yes, beauty. How lucky we are to have had him here.’
For more information about the Rotary World Peace Scholarships and how to apply, go to www.rotary.org or call the Rotary club in your area.
Pranckevicius is the son of Algimanta Pranckeviciene and Vilhelmas Pranckevicius of Panevezys, Lithuania.
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