US college holds Rwanda Presidential Scholars Symposium

KIGALI - Hendrix College in the US Thursday hosted the “Rwanda Presidential Scholars Program (RPSP) Consortium Dinner” at the Clinton Presidential Centre which brought together an elite group of academicians from 21 US institutions of higher learning. The purpose of this event was to examine how the RPSP can be better served by expanding to include nine additional schools that will all offer scholarships to Rwandan students. Dr. Tim Cloyd, President of Hendrix College, introduced the new partner institutions to the program. He acknowledged the enormous impact these exceptionally talented students have had on each campus they are studying. “Having day-to-day contact with Rwandan students helps faculty members, administrators and students of the participating schools develop a global view and gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by developing countries,” he said Rwandan traditional dance was performed by six students from Hendrix College. Patrick Kamongi, a Rwandan Presidential Scholar at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, delivered the invocation. Mireille Mutesi and Alex Kagabo Mugengana were the two scholars who were asked to give the “student perspective” on the program. “It was tough in the beginning to overcome language barriers, cultural adjustments, and survive in a competitive academic environment,” Mutesi said. James Kimonyo, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the US, said that the Government of Rwanda was committed to supporting the incredible initiative. “We look forward to engaging in this important discussion on accepting new academic partner institutions and discussing the financial mechanism that will be affordable by our government bearing in mind that we need to continue with this program without adversely affecting national programs that support thousands of students in Rwanda,” he said. Dabbs Cavin, former CEO of Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda, said that there was so much to learn from Rwandan students and that the Rwanda Presidential Scholars will continue to have an impact on the American students they interact with everyday. Hendrix solicited five other schools and awarded 25 new scholarships in 2008. Last year the consortium expanded again to include a total of 12 schools and awarded 52 scholarships, bringing the total student enrolment under the program to 81 students in five different states. Ends