Lydia Cross has been awarded the 2025 Rotary Global Grant for future study in the area of community economic development. She is one of only two students to receive the award from Rotary District 7770 in South Carolina. A participant in the Darla Moore School of Business’s accelerated master’s in international business double-degree program, Cross will use funding from Rotary to study at the ESCP Business School in Paris, France.
Why it matters
Cross earned a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing from the University of South Carolina in 2024, graduating magna cum laude from the Responsible International Leadership Cohort. She completed over 300 service hours as an undergraduate, working with organizations such as the International Rescue Committee in their economic empowerment sector. Cross also volunteered at l’Arche in Lyon, France, an organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities in France. These experiences sparked her passion for the economic development and welfare of local populations. After earning her master’s degree, Cross aspires to work with multinational organizations to pursue these community development goals.
What she’s saying
“[This grant] will allow me to combine the experiences I have had working with nonprofits and international governments to expand my understanding of how public policy affects the economy, business and nonprofit organizations.”
What it offers
The Rotary Global Grant, awarded by Rotary International, provides between $30,000 and $45,000 for graduate study abroad. The grant supports degrees and projects in one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. Cross was sponsored by the Five Points Rotary Club.
National Fellowships and Scholar Programs provides support for Rotary Global Grant applicants. Students interested in learning more should contact USC’s national fellowships team.