New scholarship at AUB to benefit Syrian Orthodox Students
His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, recently established an endowed scholarship for Syrian Orthodox students studying at the American University of Beirut.
All Syrian Orthodox students applying to AUB from across the Middle East are eligible for the scholarship, which will be available starting with the 2011-12 academic year. The scholarship bears no restrictions on subject of study as long as the students demonstrate financial need and good academic standing. All eligible students applying for financial aid will automatically qualify for the scholarship; no separate application is necessary.
The fund was established following a visit to the AUB Office of Development by His Excellency Archbishop Mar Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim of Aleppo. The close relationship that developed resulted in the Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Scholarship, founded on the eve of the thirtieth anniversary of His Holiness’s Patriarchal endowment. The agreement was reached during a meeting with Director of AUB’s Office of Development Operations Soha Hmaidan and His Holiness Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in the Syrian Orthodox Church’s Lebanon headquarters in Atshana on August 3, 2010.
Soha Hmaidan explained that the endowed scholarship is expected to generate close to $5,000 annually in financial aid money. “This association of the Patriarch’s name with AUB demonstrates the trust vested in AUB as an institution that educates leaders across the region,” said Hmaidan.
The scholarship will be added to the already existing Hanna Choulji scholarship for Syrian Orthodox students from Aleppo at AUB.
