MKU award scholarship to needy students
Over 100 needy secondary students from Imbuto Foundation have received the second installment of their sponsorship from MKU. The Rwf 26,850,000 million handed over to the foundation’s Director-General, Sandrine Umutoni, were part of Rwf 134, 250, 000 that Mount Kenya University will be paying over a period of five years.
MKU Chairman and Founder Prof. Simon Gicharu hands over the cheque to Imbuto foundation’s director-general Sandrine Umutoni.
While handing over the money at the university campus on February 22, the varsity’s Chairman and Founder, Prof. Simon Gicharu, said that this was part of giving back to the community that has been so supportive to Mount Kenya University. “We entered this partnership with Imbuto Foundation because we wanted to give back to the community in Rwanda. We started small and when we wanted to build our university, people and the local authorities here were cooperative and willing. So we decided to help vulnerable students attain education here in Rwanda.”
Last year, Imbuto Foundation entered a five-year partnership with Mount Kenya University with an aim of providing education opportunities to brilliant but economically disadvantaged Rwandan students in secondary schools. Through this partnership Mount Kenya University contributed $150,000, which will be disbursed in five annual installments of $30,000, to support the education of 100 vulnerable students in secondary school through Imbuto Foundation’s Edified Generation scholarships programme.
In addition, the varsity will provide scholarships to brilliant girls – also beneficiaries of Imbuto Foundation scholars programme – every year for the next five years. In an effort to promote East African integration, three of those scholarships will be used at Mount Kenya University-Kigali campus, while the remaining two will be allocated at the main campus in Thika- Kenya.
Mount Kenya University is a chartered private university operating in the East African region, and a member of Inter-University Council of East Africa, African Association of Universities and Association of Commonwealth Universities.
The handing over ceremony in Kigali was witnessed by, among others, Prof. Edwin Odhuno, the Vice Chancellor, students from Mount Kenya University and some of the beneficiaries.
The Edified Generation scholarships programme was initiated in 2003 with an objective to financially support secondary school students from economically vulnerable backgrounds in their pursuit of education. Beneficiaries of this programme receive assistance of up to $300 per year, to help pay for their living costs, health insurance and their school supplies.
Each year, through a holiday camp, the scholars are equipped with health and socioeconomic knowledge to prepare them for their professional and personal well-being.
Since its establishment in 2003, over 8,000 students have benefitted from the programme of which 4,379 are girls while 3,687 are boys.
Students enter Mount Kenya University Wall of Fame
21 students of Mount Kenya University Rwanda who excelled in the academic year 2018 were recognized for their performance and entered the University’s Wall of Fame. The inaugural ceremony was held on February 21, 2019, at the ultra-modern Mount Kenya University Complex at Kagarama, Kicukiro and graced by the Chairman, Board of Directors, and Founder of Mount Kenya University.
While officiating over the ceremony, the varsity’s Chairman and founder, Prof. Simon Gicharu, said the University set up the Wall of Fame in order to motivate students towards academic excellence “The management established an award system in September 2018, to motivate students to excel. For one to be the best, it is about determination and going an extra mile to achieve the best in order to be the best,” said Prof. Gicharu.
He challenged the awardees to keep up the good performance which will place them ahead of their peers in the job market. He emphasized the commitment of Mount Kenya University in creating job creators other than job seekers.
The students who demonstrated high academic achievement in each semester were put on the Dean’s List based on the average grade achieved as well as consistency in class attendance. Students who post excellent performance for three consecutive semesters are placed on the Vice Chancellor’s List and are eligible for such awards as fees rebate and partial scholarships.
