The International Relations Scholarship for 2011 was awarded to Mrs. Christine B. Weidenslaufer. She has a Law degree from Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile and a LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, St. Mary's University, Texas, USA.

At present, Christine works for the Library of Congress and her main job is to provide legal assistance to the Parliament, developing research and analysis in Comparative Law, especially Common Law.

Miss Weidenslaufer has participated as judge and moderator in public speaking events in Chile and in the United States. Her character and her positive enthusiasm for her work and studies in Common Law, made her the No.1 choice for 2011.

Over 100 candidates participated this year; approximately 50 percent were eliminated, as they didn’t meet the minimum standards set by ESU.

The committee members in charge of the pre-selection process were Ximena Villalón, Ethel Melej, Nigel Blackburn, Philip Ray, James Cowan in representation of ESU-Chile and Christina Brieba of Instituto Chileno Británico de Cultura. Each “reader” selected two or more candidates.

As a result, ten candidates were invited to an interview. The members of the interviewing commission were Paula Lekanda (last year winner), Richard Collinwood-Selby, former ESU Chairperson, and James Cowan, Head of IRS committee. Paula’s participation was essential in the interviewing; hopefully the tradition can be maintained.

This year, the second place was for Miss Bianca Szwecoka a journalist with a Masters Degree in Immigration and Intercultural Education; at present, she works for I.N.E. the Chilean Institute of National Statistics.

The International Relations Conference at Oxford will take place from August 8 to 14, with the participation of delegates from many different countries. It is a unique opportunity to make individual contacts with people from various professions, cultures and backgrounds.

ESU Chile would like to thank Daniela Correa of the Instituto Chileno Británico de Cultura (ICBC), who has worked with ESU Chile for some years in the International Relations Scholarship, and also, to all those whose help was invaluable.