Netherlands –Florida Scholarship Foundation
The 2005 scholarship has been awarded to Roelant van Dam. Roelant was born and raised in Zeeland and presently is a student in the department of Water Engineering and Management at the University of Twente. He will spend three months at the University of Miami, working on the generation of water waves by wind. Roelants tentative plans are to be in Miami from July through October. I hope that during that period you will have a chance to meet him.
Just to remind you, The Netherlands –Florida Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization and one of the many activities sponsored by the Netherlands Association of South Florida. The main objective of the Foundation is to promote the mutual understanding of the American and Dutch culture by enabling a Dutch student to spend a semester at a university in South Florida or a South Florida student to spend a semester at a Dutch university. In particular in these times, when the US and Europe seem to drift further and further apart, efforts to close this gap seem worthwhile even on the small scale of student exchange. The Netherlands-Florida scholarship program is now in its third year. Previous recipients are Angie van Bemden (University of Miami) and Marjan Bovers (University of Utrecht).
So far one of the problems in making this scholarship program work has been to make it known to interested parties. Students at all universities in South Florida are eligible, however so far applications have only been received from the University of Miami. In order for this university not to monopolize the program, if you know of faculty members at other South Florida universities who have an interest in participating in the scholarship program, please let them know that this opportunity exists.
The scholarship funds derive from the proceeds of the Oranje Open Golf Tournament. However, this is barely enough to cover the cost for a one-semester exchange. So if you are looking for a worthwhile cause you can always make a tax-deductible donation. Make your check payable to Netherlands –Florida Scholarship Foundation and mail to Hans van Grondelle, Treasurer NFSF, 7720 SW 59th Court, South Miami, Fla 33143.
For additional information see www.dutchclub.com or www.oranjeopen.com or contact Co van de Kreeke at jvandekreeke@rsmas.miami.edu.