An incoming student at Georgia Gwinnett College, Tehara Dalpethado is the recipient of a cultural scholarship from the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County to attend GGC this academic year. Dalpethado plans to study finance and eventually pursue an MBA, but this is her first visit to the U.S. She outlined her native country and childhood in two videos and a short talk on Tuesday to the Rotary Club of Gwinnett during its weekly meeting at The 1818 Club. As part of the program, Dalpethado will live on campus at GGC, but also have a host family and other assistance from the Rotarians as she takes in the American culture.

Dalpethado was paired with the Gwinnett Rotary through a lottery system as part of the Georgia Rotary Student Program. To be a part of the GRSP, students must pass academic and English proficiency qualifications. Rotarian Paige Havens, who introduced Dalpethado and the GRSP program at the meeting, said the GRSP is designed to break down myths and misconceptions about the American culture, and to better understand the native cultures of students like Dalpethado. There are 3,100 alumni in the program since it began more than 70 years ago.