For DonorsFor Applicants

Pan-African Scholars Initiative

$600
1 winner$600
Awarded
Application Deadline
Sep 16, 2024
Winners Announced
Oct 18, 2024
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
Eligibility Requirements
Field of Study:
STEM
Background:
International student

International students face a world of challenges when pursuing higher education in the U.S., including language barriers, financial stress, complicated documentation, and a lack of community.

Empowering international students to stick with their dreams and helping them through the process requires sharing resources, knowledge, and networks that can make their transition easier so they can focus on academic excellence and professional development.

This scholarship seeks to provide financial assistance and other support to international students as they pursue their academic goals.

Any high school or undergraduate student who is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) major and an international student may apply for this scholarship opportunity, but applicants from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda are preferred.

To apply, tell us about your background, your experiences as an international student, and why pursuing a college degree is important for you.

Selection Criteria:
International Student, Ambition, Motivation
Published June 21, 2024
Essay Topic

Please tell us about your background, particularly as it pertains to your experiences as an international student. With multiple ways to earn a living (including but not limited to social media), why is it important for you to pursue a degree?

50–300 words

Winning Application

Christa Akariza Kanamugire Shekinah
Assumption CollegeN Franklin, CT
Three years ago, I left Rwanda and came to the United States to continue my education with the hope that the educational opportunities available in the USA will help me to achieve my dream of becoming an aerospace engineer. I was a rising senior in high school when I got a good scholarship to a high school in the United States. I applied to this high school during the Covid pandemic because schools were closed in my country, and I didn’t want to lose an academic year because of Covid. The acceptance letter came when schools in Rwanda were open, but I accepted the offer because I knew I wanted to go to college in the USA. I did my senior year and during that time I applied to various colleges. Assumption University offered me an opportunity to continue my studies. I knew that Assumption University did not have an aerospace engineering major however, it has an engineering program that enables students to graduate with both a liberal arts and engineering degree. I joined the engineering program because I did not want the obstacles I faced to stop me from pursuing my dream. Currently, I am a mathematics major with a minor in engineering science in the 3:2 program of engineering. Going to a liberal arts college enabled me to realize that education offers more than a career. Assumption University helped me to understand that education is a journey of discovering the truth. Despite being a math major I heavily enjoy the philosophy and theology classes because they make me think about other areas of life. These classes provide a holistic education that not only helps me to develop intellectually but also spiritually. I need to obtain a degree because earning a living is different from earning a life.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Sep 16, 2024. Winners will be announced on Oct 18, 2024.