Two Anthropology students at AUCA received the Mary Schweitzer Scholarship for the 2014-2015 academic year

November 24, 2014

On November 20^th, 2014, the  Dr. Mary Schweitzer Scholarship was awarded to outstanding students in the Anthropology program at AUCA.

At the ceremony Aisulu Sulaimanova, the Director of Development at AUCA emphasized unique features of the scholarship such as alumni-driven,  special focus on the area of studies,  its growing scale, and long-term commitment of its donors, which are exemplary and will hopefully be followed by other programs in future.

Dr Schweitzer and the some of the scholarship donors – Anthropology alumni- also addressed the audience in a video prepared by the alumni. They gave background information, stressed out importance of Anthropology for the region, gave their word of wisdom with students and congratulated the winners and shared their plans for future.“At the moment we provide scholarship only to citizens of Kyrgyzstan. But we are planning to expand our borders and in future, hopefully, we will try to give scholarship to other students beyond Kyrgyzstan”, said Mary Schweitzer in the video broadcast.

Mukaram Toktogulova, AUCA Anthropology faculty and member of the Scholarship Committee, handed books donated by Dr Schweitzer to 2013 -2014 academic year winners Aidai Kadyralieva, Temirlan Kadyrov and Gulnora Iskandarova. The winners of 2014-2015 academic year Gulniza Taalaibekova, senior and Basira Mir-Muhammad, sophomore, were awarded special certificates by Aisulu Sulaimanova, Director of Development.  This year, each winner receives 1000 (one thousand)USD in cash, which they can use at their own discretion.

Each year the scholarship fund will be changed. Scholarships in form of cash and tuition coverage will be awarded based on the quality and the number of applications.

One of the scholars of the 2014-2015 academic year, Basira Mir Muhammad, sophomorewas happy to talk to us about her achievements and her education at Anthropology department:

“Anthropology is a science that makes me more and more interested in it every day. I'm so happy that I chose this particular department because there I learn exactly what I am interested in. I may say that, I am in love with my future profession.  While studying at AUCA I have realized what happiness is, for me happiness now is doing what I love. I have a lot of friends at AUCA and we are ready to turn over the world for each other. There are not so many in our group but we are very united, and this is very important. Our professors treat us like adults and are always ready to help us at any time. Perhaps this is the same in other departments but for me, my department is the best. I wish patience to our professors. I dream that our department would develop more in the future and becomes the best faculty at AUCA, because anthropology is a science that answers all of the questions of humanity.

Taking this chance, I would like to express my gratitude to all the organizers of the Mary Schweitzer scholarship and to my department. Many thanks to the professors of the Anthropology department - they are the best professors! “

About Mary Schweitzer Scholarship:

Mary Schweitzer scholarship is an annual scholarship opportunity for Anthropology students at AUCA. It supports students who show commitment to and excellence in anthropology. The scholarship was established by the AUCA Anthropology graduates in 2010 to honor Professor Mary Schweitzer in consideration of all she did for the benefit of anthropology at AUCA and her ongoing commitment to the future of her former students. Mary Schweitzer is a US-based Professor of anthropology and she taught anthropology at AUCA from 2002 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2005.

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