press releases 2007

U.S. Ambassador Celebrates Department of State Student Scholarships

December 6, 2007

Today, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman hosted five Lebanese students who are the recipients of a scholarship from the Department of State/Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to attend an American university.  The Embassy congratulates Nancy Nasser from Beirut, Saleh Cheraif from Bekaa,  Rayan Boustany from the Shouf, Sleiman Jiradi from Saida, and Abir Maryam from Syr Al-Dinieh who are the first Lebanese recipients of these scholarships. The $200,000 Department of State grant along with matching funds from Christopher Newport University in Virginia will enable these five deserving students to receive their bachelor degrees.  The students were selected based on their academic achievements, and will choose their majors following their first year in university.

Ambassador Feltman also applauded those who helped evaluate and select the scholarship recipients.  Dr. Mounzer Fatfat, Mr. Talal Al-Makdisi, Mr. Nemet Frim, and Mrs. Doria Charmand provided the organizational skills, the commitment, and the time needed to make this scholarship program a reality in Lebanon.

The United States is committed to the importance of education in Lebanon and for Lebanese.  In the last ten years, the American people, through the Congress of the United States, have contributed over 90 million dollars to Lebanese education.   U.S. assistance supports education at all levels in Lebanon through the Department of
State, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the well-known J. William Fulbright program and the Middle East Partnership Initiative.