THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER

THE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM

Created by a grant from the McGregor Fund.
Maintained through the generous support of the Seaman Family Foundation

Fengzhi Chen - China

Fengzhi Chen (class of '10) is a communications major from Shenzhen, China.

She says, "A few years ago I was selected from my school in Shenzhen to visit young children in a poor rural area of China who were unable to go to school due to the extreme poverty of their families. I was shocked during that journey and vowed that I would come to the United States to achieve the best education possible, so that I could return to China and help those children. Therefore, if I could only discuss one topic as Ambassador it would have to be education - the differences and similarities between China and the USA, and how education can reflect wider social and historical issues. I want to use my experience as an Ambassador to perfect my already strong spoken English skills, and above all, I want to make a difference!"

Gameli Afagbegee (class of '08) is a political science major with a minor in Africana studies. He is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Gameli says, "I always talk about my country, and I am sure that most Woosterites have heard enough, so now it is time for me to to reach out and move on to a wider audience than my College friends! If I could only discuss one thing it would have to be Ethiopian food. It is SO GOOD - and who doesn't want to enjoy an exotic dish, and to learn how it is prepared?!"

Aneeb Sharif (class of '10) is an economics major with a minor in political science from Lahore, Pakistan.

Aneeb says, "This is not my first time representing Pakistan. Two years ago I represented my country at the Global Young Leaders' Conference, held in Washington D.C. and NYC, and have therefore become accustomed to public speaking. The Ambassadors' Program offers me this opportunity to further learn and understand more about Pakistan's culture, traditions, history, customs and heritage, so that I can impart that knowledge as Pakistan's Ambassador to Wooster. Using my summer research, I plan on researching tough questions such as Islamic fundamentalism and its connection to terrorism, the emancipation of women and many more topics, all of which bring Pakistan in the news in the western world. I am very excited to have this unique opportunity to compare both cultures and represent my country."

Aung Maw says, "I always thought I knew about Myanmar very well… till about a month ago when the Ambassador’s Program proved me wrong – and it’s doing so every single day these days while I am at home. As I step further into the research, I realized that being born in a country might make you its citizen, but actually knowing your own country could make you a proud one. I can’t wait to share with the Wooster community what Myanmar, my country, has secretly in store."

Sheldon Masters (class of '09) is a mathematics major from Mandeville, Jamaica.

He says, "For my Ambassadors' research, I plan to focus on topics about my homeland that may not be immediately apparent. Jamaica is a small island, in which there are people of African descent, mixed with Indians, Chinese, and Europeans, to create a mixture of peoples found nowhere else. Our motto - Out of Many, One - speaks to the diversity of the people. This diversity has translated into Jamaican music, food, dance, language.... I am also looking forward to visiting the Jerk centers in Portland, the peppered shrimp vendors in St. Elizabeth and learning to cook curried mutton from my own mother. If the Ambassadors Program needs me to travel the length of my country sampling different delicious food, so be it. It's a tough job, but I look forward to the challenge!"

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