On the 15th of December, the staff of the USAID-Higher Education Scholarships (HES) Program at the American University of Beirut (AUB), held a focus group and farewell lunch for the students graduating at the end of the Fall 2022 semester.
HES Director Dr. Samar Harkouss and Provost Designee Dr. Malek Tabbal, listened to the scholars recounting their experiences in the program, their favorite moments, the challenges they faced, and their recommendations for the future.
Overall the students were extremely grateful for the HES-USAID scholarship, the countless opportunities that it provided for them, and the transformative journey – both personal and professional – that they undertook during their enrollment. Not even the Covid-19 pandemic, nor the difficult socioeconomic situation in Lebanon could deter these scholars from their education or development. Afterwards the students and staff shared a wonderful meal commemorating their time together at AUB.
Photo caption:
USAID-HES students and staff at the farewell lunch