Hello family & friends!

I am so honored to be selected as an Ambassadorial Scholar by Rotary District 5960 (Minnesota & Wisconsin, USA) and proud to be sponsored by West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary Club. The next year of my life will be so exciting and I’m looking forward to participating in this amazing program of the Rotary Foundation!

I have been an active member of the Rotary family since I joined Twin Cities Rotaract in the summer of 2003. Soon after joining the club, I began to take on leadership roles within the club and have served on the executive board ever since. I am currently the 2009-10 President of the club but my term ends on June 30, 2010. In the past, I have had other opportunities to travel with Rotary. In 2006, I was selected to be a team member on a Group Study Exchange and traveled to Rotary District 1860 in Germany. I also have traveled to the past 6 Rotary International Conventions where I have made lifetime friendships with Rotaractors and Rotarians all over the world.

I grew up in Veseli, Minnesota, a small rural town 40 miles south of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, where my family and friends were all close. I stayed nearby for college and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls in 2002 with a double major in Accounting and Finance. I have been working in public accounting for over 7 years and for the past 2 years I have been working as a financial statement auditor and business consultant. Recently I was on a team assisting one of our clients with an initial public offering (IPO) for the NYSE.

I really enjoy what I do. I work with many different companies in a variety of industries and am able to work with a great teams of people. I also like working with numbers which is a very good thing for an accountant. :) My past work experiences have made me want to further my professional career. An International MBA program will allow me to expand my business knowledge, participate in a cross culture learning environment and will help me strengthen my leadership skills.

I am so happy to have Rotary International providing me this scholarship. Rotary is a large part of my life and has become a second family to me. During my scholarship year, I will be involved with the local Rotaract and Rotary Clubs. I hope to attend as many events and participate in as many service projects as my schedule will afford. I also hope to connect with the Rotaractors I've met at the conventions and continue our friendships.

Thank you for following me and I hope you are as excited as I am!

In Rotary and Rotaract Service,
Annie Marek