Winchester student, James Vincent, becomes an ambassador for Britain this summer having been selected as a Boothby Scholar for 2001.

Every year a student, sponsored by Itchen Abbas Rotary club, goes to Washington DC to attend a presidential college.

Along with 80 other students from around the world, 17-year-old James, from Broughton, will spend a week in and around the White House, attending lectures by US government officials, exploring the city and attending seminars and meetings.

In his second week, James will stay with a Rotarian family when he visits various places in the state of Virginia.

James, formerly of King's School, has just completed his AS level exams at Peter Symonds' College in maths, physics, history and graphics. After finishing college, he hopes to go to Cambridge University to study law.

James is no stranger to travelling, having already visited Nepal, the Philippines, Italy and Germany.

In a reciprocal gesture, the Washington Rotary Club of Washington has sponsored Brooke Stoddard, (18) from Virginia, to visit England. He stayed with James for a week to take part in history and politics lessons at Peter Symonds'.

The Boothby Scholarship was set up in 1993 as a memorial to Ken Boothby, a keen Rotarian, to encourage links between the two countries and to provide opportunities for enthusiastic students.