FORMER Ramsey Grammar School student Jennie Mitchell is the winner of this year's Ella Olesen Scholarship.

Jennie, 20, of All Saints Park, Lonan, will follow a long line of local students in spending nine months among the 12,000 students at Idaho University in the USA from next 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 Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children, John Gill, Head of Legal and Administrative Services and current Ella Olesen scholar Katie Taylor, 22.

They sifted through 11 applications and interviewed four students before selecting Jennie.

Jennie left Ramsey Grammar with three A-levels at A grade and is now in her final year of an English literature degree at Newcastle University.

During her time there she has written for the university's newspaper and reported for, presented and produced shows for its radio station.

An active participant in the Newcastle University Theatre Society, Jennie has also been involved in running cultural festivals and has assisted with performance and language workshops at a local theatre.

Jennie has also volunteered to help new students settle into university life as an English representative and supports them via drop-in sessions and feedback.

She is thrilled to have the opportunity to study in Moscow, Idaho, which has a thriving cultural scene, and plans to continue to study literature alongside new subjects, giving her a broad range of qualifications that will be attractive to employers.

She hopes to continue her reporting and has her sights set on being involved with the International Student Council.

Jennie said: "I am absolutely over the moon to be going to Idaho and, at first, I couldn't believe I had won the scholarship.

"It means a lot to me as I have always wanted to experience life abroad and this will be the perfect chance to live and work with students from all over the world.

"I would also like to thank the Department of Education and Children for giving me such an amazing opportunity. I think I will take Katie's advice and invest in a proper winter coat!"

Jennie will be the 45th Ella Olesen scholar to travel to Idaho (at its inception the scholarship benefited two students). She will stay in the university's Global Village, inhabited by students from all over the world.

Until this year students have been put up, on their arrival, by Phyllis and Duane LeTourneau, former neighbours of Miss Olesen.

Granny and Grandpa Idaho, as they are affectionately known to generations of Manx girls, traditionally met new scholars at the airport and looked after them for their first few weeks in Idaho.

However, their advancing years and a change in their accommodation mean this is now impossible for them.

On Katie's arrival in Idaho in August she presented the couple with an illuminated address, on behalf of the Isle of Man Government, by way of thanks for their hospitality.

Katie, of Close Caarjys, Ramsey, who has a first class honours degree in sports science, will be in Idaho until May 2011.

Back in the Island for the Christmas and New Year break, Katie, who is also a former Ramsey Grammar School student, said: "On behalf of all the past Ella Olesen scholars I would like to extend our congratulations to Jennie on being chosen as the next student to embrace life at the University of Idaho.

"She has a fantastic journey ahead of her, experiencing the Idaho culture and meeting students from all around the world. She will be a fantastic ambassador for the Isle of Man during her time out there."

Meanwhile, Kirsty Pendlebury, who was the DEC's Ella Olesen scholar in 2008/2009 and who started a Facebook group for ex-scholars, has organised the first ever reunion.

It will take place tonight (Thursday) at 7.30pm at C'est la Vie, Victoria Street, Douglas.