Nicole Bowman has been selected for an Ambassadorial Scholarship through the Ballard Rotary Club and will travel to Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia where she plans to study for a Masters Degree in International Communication.

The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarships are one of their oldest and most well-known programs. The program was started in 1947 and since then 37,000 men and women representing 100 nations have taken part.

The award helps further understanding and promote relationships among people of different countries. Candidates can be graduate or undergraduate students or professionals who are interested in vocational studies.

Bowman applied for the scholarship over a year ago. Her essay explained why the program was important to her, what she would do if she got it and why she had a passion to serve people.

"I want to learn and serve in another country and bring the lessons back here," said Bowman who would like to teach communication at a community college or university while taking time to do service trips overseas.

Bowman grew up in both Ballard and Magnolia. She graduated from King's High School in Shoreline, but played fast-pitch softball and volleyball at Ballard High School.

Participating in sports helped Bowman learn the value of teamwork and accomplishing goals as part of a team.

Last year, Bowman received a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Whitworth College in Spokane. She spent the 2002 semester abroad in Austria and 2003 in England.

She works as a copy editor for The Domain Group, a marketing agency. The company produces fundraising publications for non-profits. Their clients include the Salvation Army, Lance Armstrong Foundation, CARE, Mercy Corps and others.

Her recent projects at The Domain Group involved writing copy to help South Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina victims.

Bowman was invited to speak at a Ballard Rotary Club meeting last week. It was not the first time a Bowman gave a Rotary speech.

She did volunteer work as a teen at the Union Gospel Mission and World Vision.

Other volunteer work was done at Ballard Rotary events like their Annual auction fundraiser and the Christmas shopping program for underprivileged kids at Adams Elementary School.

She has fond memories of taking a young Eritrean girl to the Fred Meyer store on a $100 shopping spree.

"That was very full filling to see the joy in her eyes, touching new clothes," said Bowman.

Her grandfather, Art Bowman was the club president from 1972 to 1973. Art Bowman and his brother Clare owned the Sparkle Cleaners in Ballard.

Bowman leaves for Australia in February and will spend a year there studying for her Masters.

The scholarship covers round-trip transportation, academic fees, room and board and educational supplies. Awards average $11,000 to $23,000 depending on the situation.

She wants to combine her communications education and interest in service to work with a diversity of people.

Bowman has adopted the saying "Build bridges, not ditches."

"I have come to adopt that as my personal mantra. But instead of becoming a construction worker, I hope to use the combination of service and communication to implement such. After all, I could have the biggest heart in the world, but if I lack the communication skills to partner and connect with the very people I'm serving, then I serve in vain. Because service is not a just about projects, it's about people," Bowman wrote in a personal statement.

She wants to bring back her experience from Australia to Seattle. "I want to bring these skills back to the states to work with people of different backgrounds here," Bowman said.

Bowman wants to develop the ability to bring joy to people by serving them. "It's really rewarding as a recipient and as a giver. To enable the next generation to have the same passion and skills to serve cross culturally," she said.

"I'm honored and excited to represent the Rotary Club in Australia," said Bowman.