USA - TEN Rwandan students will today graduate along with 300 classmates at the US based Oklahoma Christian University (OCU).

They will be the first to complete their studies under the Presidential Scholars programme that was signed between President Paul Kagame and OCU, during his first visit to the university in 2006.

Kagame will be one of the keynote speakers the graduation ceremony, and the First Lady,. Jeannette Kagame, is set to receive an honorary doctorate for her significant contribution to the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS and poverty.

In a phone interview with The New Times, Aline Kabbatende, one of the 10 students, expressed her joy to be finally able to acquire a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering.

"I am very excited to finally come to the end and it will also be a rare opportunity, especially for us who are out of the country, to have our President and First Lady attending this graduation ceremony,” Kabbatende said.

"I believe that there is great need for skills in my country and I am hoping to acquire a job on return and contribute to my country’s development. Certainly, I also intend to go for further studies because I still feel like this is still not enough”.

Four others will also graduate in Electrical Engineering, two in Chemistry, one each in Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering and the other in Computer Science.

Kabattende added that from the beginning of last year, the scholars programme was also expanded to facilitate 10 Rwandan graduates to pursue their Masters’ Studies at OCU annually.

OCU’s president, Mike O’Neal, affirmed that Rwandan students have been outstanding performers in class and good citizens in the university community.

"Oklahoma Christian has formed a strong relationship with the leaders of Rwanda to help meet the long-term needs of President Kagame’s Vision 2020,” O’Neal said.

Under the Rwandan Presidential Scholars program, 10 top Rwandan high school students are brought to OC each year and today there are 60 students at the university.

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