A-PLUS Student Activities
Fifty-One Palestinian Students Receive First-Ever
American-Palestinian Local University Scholarships
AMIDEAST and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem recently hosted an orientation session for 51 Palestinian university students who have been selected for the American-Palestinian Local University Scholarships (A-PLUS) program. This innovative educational program was established on March 4, 2009 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during a visit to Ramallah. Since then, AMIDEAST has managed the A-PLUS program for exceptional students throughout the West Bank and Gaza for study at local Palestinian universities.
In the past year, AMIDEAST received nearly 1,600 applications from West Bank and Gaza Tawajhi students interested in the 51 available scholarships. Applications went through several screening phases, concluding with interviews for the most eligible candidates. Once Tawajhi results were released, finalists were announced. Students were selected in this highly competitive process based on academic achievement and financial need. On September 30, 2010, the first meeting with the A-PLUS grantees was held at AMIDEAST Ramallah and via video conference with Gazan A-PLUS grantees. Ms. Cynthia Harvey, Cultural Affairs Officer for the U.S. Consulate, and Ms. Erin Mai, Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer, welcomed the students and congratulated them on their selection to the A-PLUS program. In her remarks to the group, Ms. Harvey said, “This is the first step in your journey toward achieving your dreams. You are now a part of the AMIDEAST and U.S. Consulate General family. We hope that the A-PLUS scholarship will help you reach your full potential and that you will consider applying for academic exchange opportunities in the USA in the future through the Fulbright program or others.”
One of the many highlights of the program has been the selection of three A-PLUS scholarship recipients from the Gaza Strip, who received permission to study at West Bank Universities. Fidah Mousa, AMIDEAST Scholarships Program Officer, noted “I am moved beyond words to see how much this scholarship means to all of you and the doors it has opened that would not have been opened otherwise.” The A-PLUS program is funded through MEPI, the Middle East Partnership Initiative, and the U.S. Consulate General. Each scholarship recipient will receive funding to cover his/her undergraduate education at Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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Contact Information
| Country Director: Steven Keller | |
| Ramallah/El-Bireh | |
| Street Address: Al-Watanieh Towers, 1st floor |
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19665 |
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| Gaza | |
| Street Address: Martyr Raja St. No. 8/704 |
Mailing Address: PO Box 1247,
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| Phone: Ramallah: 02-240-8023
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