The 11 women and seven men come from six countries — Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, and, for the first time, Libya. The support of Amideast’s educational advising staff that is offered all DKSSF students was critical to their successful applications. In most cases, their applications were also strengthened by their participation in the Competitive College Club (CCC), which Amideast manages on behalf of EducationUSA in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.

In July, Amideast/Alexandria relocated its operations to the American Center Alexandria (ACA), home of the U.S. Consulate for many years. Built in the early 20th century, the building is an architectural gem that holds historical and cultural significance for many Alexandrians — a legacy that Amideast is committed to honoring by preserving its structural integrity and respecting its importance to the community. 

These impressive young women and men from Lebanon, Tunisia, and the West Bank excelled in their college studies and are exceptional in many other ways.

Lebanese philanthropist and entrepreneur Maroun Semaan will be posthumously honored for his significant contributions to the advancement of education at the Amideast Award Gala in Beverly Hills on October 14, 2017.  Mr. Semaan is the first recipient of the Amideast Education Hero Award, an honor established by Amideast to recognize individuals for their exemplary dedication to improving education in Lebanon.

International exchange programs got a huge boost of support this week as 163 former U.S. ambassadors sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to support full funding in fiscal year 2018 for the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

These outstanding young men and women came into the program well before their dreams of winning scholarships to pursue their college studies in the United States came true. They continued to make their mark during their journeys, making all of us at Amideast proud.

Meet This Year's Graduates

Amideast’s main UAE office has moved to a new home. The large, modern quarters in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s commercial quarters will allow it to serve an increasing number of students and professionals looking to Amideast for a range of educational, training, and testing services, while supporting the growing needs of nearby businesses for training and testing. 

Academic excellence is a prerequisite to joining the program, as DKSSF candidates must be able to stand out in the highly competitive college application process if they are to succeed in winning the scholarships they need in order to realize their college ambitions. As you’ll learn from reading their stories, they also stand out for their potential to contribute to campus life and, in the longer term, give back to their societies.

Immigration Executive Order Entangles Exchange Programs

Washington, DC – On January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order banning people from seven Middle-East countries from entering the United States. The 90-day suspension of U.S. visa issuance for these Muslim-majority countries impacts educational and cultural exchange programs, thereby hindering efforts to support our national security through people-to-people diplomacy. The Order authorizes the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to make exceptions when they deem it in the national interest.

Amideast/Egypt and Citi Foundation have announced the launch of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, a two-year partnership aimed at providing economic opportunities that will directly impact 40 aspiring young Egyptian entrepreneurs and further benefit as many as 600 other youth.