Cherine Ghazouani

With the support of Amideast’s MENA Scholarship Support Fund (MSSF), she earned a scholarship from the University of Rochester that enabled her to study and thrive at one of the top optics institutes in the United States. During her undergraduate career, she participated in various academic and social clubs on campus and pursued her interests in women's rights and equal access to education through volunteer opportunities. 

Cherine loves engineering because it gives her the "satisfaction of problem-solving.” As a woman in STEM, she has become an advocate for gender diversity in the field, stating that, “by pursuing a career in engineering and science, [I am] becoming part of a large network of women in the field who support and mentor you because empowered women empower women.”  

By offering programs like YES and the MSSF, Amideast provides a potent combination of resources for outstanding young students like Cherine. As she notes, “If it were not for Amideast and DKSSF when I was a senior in high school, I would not have received the Handler Scholarship from the University of Rochester, which allowed me to pursue my dreams and complete higher education in the USA. Through their support, I have been part of a community of peers who motivate each other to achieve our respective goals and encourage others to take advantage of the opportunities presented.”