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Three new Merit Scholarship awardees. From left: Mira Al Arab, Zeina Maalouf
and Robin Lahoud.
---First established in 1999 by the Board
of Trustees, the Merit Scholarship program was created to "award
the best ten students with outstanding academic qualifications to encourage
them to continue their high academic achievement," Dr. Salim Kanaan,
Director of Financial Aid and Admissions, said.
---A committee formed by the president, provost
and deans chooses the six sophomores and four freshmen each year, on the
basis of the students' last three years in high school and how well they
did on their SAT I test scores. "The basis is pure academic excellence,
regardless of need, nationality, gender or geographical distribution,"
Dr. Kanaan said.
---The scholarship, funded by the financial
aid budget, is paid in full and renewable each undergraduate year, as
long as the student keeps a cumulative average of 85% or above.
---The thirty students who have won the scholarship
so far are elated about it. Bernard Ghanem, a first year Computer and
Communications Engineering student, didn't think that he would receive
the scholarship, but was still certain that "AUB was the only answer
to [his] everlasting search for knowledge and self-enlightenment."
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Awarded the merit scholarship this past fall semester, Bernard adds
that it has helped his family financially, "[providing] a relief
to [his] parents who were going to be burdened with the immense costs
of [his] tuition," especially now since his older brother is studying
medicine at AUB.
---Bernard plans to finish his BE in the
next four years and later continue his studies either at AUB or overseas,
until he obtains a PhD in the field of CCE. He adds, "I also hope
that I can be credited for accomplishing a significant improvement to
the human condition while making my family and university proud of me.
I just hope that I can return what AUB has generously given me."
Mira Al Arab, a sophomore majoring in Computer Science, had applied
to AUB and LAU, but finally chose AUB because of the merit scholarship.
While at Rawdah High School, she worked diligently to attain financial
help. Her dreams came true when she was accepted at AUB this year and
upon entering, received the much-needed scholarship.
---Mira plans to study for a Master's in
Business Administration or a Master's in Computer Science after her
BS, but has no plans on leaving Lebanon any time soon.
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---As a majorless freshman at AUB, Robin
Lahoud, "sort of" expected to receive the scholarship. He
too believes it is a burden taken off his parents and at the same time
he has the responsibility of paying for his own education. Yet, he admits
that he could have continued his education without the scholarship.
---After being awarded the merit scholarship,
Robin says that it "socially helped" him. He plans to enter
the CCE program at AUB next year. His 98% average so far should help.
---Zeina Maalouf, a junior majoring in
Nutrition and Dietetics, almost lost her chance for the merit scholarship.
Apparently AUB had sent her an email informing her that she was one
of the ten students to be awarded. However, she was not checking that
email account. Luckily AUB called and asked whether or not she wanted
to accept it. Of course she answered with an enthusiastic "yes!"
---With her sister and brother both graduates
of AUB, Zeina aims to achieve an MS and perhaps also a PhD in nutrition
either here or outside. She chose AUB because she believed it to have
"the best reputation."
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