FORMER King William’s College student Melissa Bell is the 2012 recipient of the Ella Olesen Scholarship.
Melissa, 21, will spend nine months among the 12,000 students at Idaho University in America from this summer.
The scholarship is named after the late Miss Ella Olesen, a former registrar of the university who died in 1985.
Her Manx ancestry – her mother Margaret Teare was born in Ballaugh and emigrated to America in 1890 – led her to gift the scholarship in 1971.
It is awarded annually to a female degree student who has been supported through her studies by the Department of Education and Children.
Forming the interview panel for this year's scholarship were Stuart Dobson, chief executive officer of the DEC and John Gill, head of legal and administrative services.
They short-listed and interviewed five girls before selecting Melissa.
Melissa, of Hillberry Road, Onchan, gained the International Baccalaureate at King William's College and is now in the final year of a degree in criminology and psychology at the University of West England in Bristol.
She hopes to work as a counsellor for children with behavioural difficulties. A grade 8 singer and accomplished stage performer, Melissa headed the King William's College choir and plays flute, piano and tenor horn with the Manx National Youth Band.
She enjoys hockey, netball and athletics, has captained hockey teams and has toured overseas with teams.
In 2010 she was awarded a Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award by Her Majesty the Queen.
Melissa said: "I am absolutely over the moon and shocked by the exciting news, but I feel very honoured and proud to be given the chance to represent the Isle of Man over in the US.
"It will be a new beginning and a fun challenge to pursue."
The current scholarship holder is English literature graduate Jennie Mitchell, 21, of Lonan. She began studying in Idaho last August and will be there until May.
Home for Christmas, she also took part in the interviews.
Jennie, a former Ramsey Grammar School student, said: "I have really tried to embrace life out here. It has been a great way to experience other cultures: not just the American way of life, but also a whole host of nationalities from around the world.
"Everyone is really friendly and it's a close community both on and off campus, with a brilliant educational system that allows you to take a wide variety of classes.
"Winning the scholarship has also been an amazing opportunity to try new activities. I've been lucky enough to volunteer for the university's Make a Difference Day, which was a great way to help out the community, complete a 5km fun run through campus, hike the beautiful Moscow Mountain, attend university basketball games, experience the American Hallowe’en (no scary costumes), survive Thanksgiving and all its trimmings, visit the nearby town of Spokane, spend a week sightseeing in rainy Seattle for Fall break and even have a go at the gun range.
"It has been brilliant so far and I am looking forward to new adventures in the spring."
Between 1984 and 2009 Ella Olesen scholars newly arrived from the Island stayed with Duane and Phyllis leTourneau, former neighbours of Miss Olesen, before moving onto campus in halls of residence called the Global Village.
The leTourneaus' advancing years meant that Clare Christian, of Onchan, was the last scholar to stay with them.
Phyllis – who, with her husband, was honoured by the Isle of Man Government for their unstinting hospitality – died in April 2011.
Jennie has enjoyed getting to know the new host family, the Ketchums, and said: "I can't thank them enough as they have been really supportive and helpful while I have been out here, as I am sure they will be for the next scholar."
Since moving to the Global Village Jennie has become her house's social chairman, devising events and activities to interest students and encourage them to mingle.
Jennie said: "I would like to congratulate the next Ella Olesen scholar on her achievement. I am sure she will enjoy every minute of her time at the University of Idaho."
