Immediate Release
February 16, 2020
Ambassador Congratulates 17 for Earning Lincoln Scholarships for Master’s Degrees in U.S.A.
Yangon – Seventeen young leaders from eight states and regions in Myanmar will begin their graduate studies later this year at U.S. universities, thanks to USAID’s Lincoln Scholarship Program, U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel announced today.
“The United States wants to see Myanmar succeed. That’s why we are proud to be sending these seventeen young leaders from across Myanmar to the United States to earn master’s degrees. We are doing this so that bright people from across Myanmar can gain educational and leadership experiences to help shape Myanmar’s future,” said Ambassador Marciel.
The seventeen Lincoln Scholars, selected from among 266 diverse applicants, will study Agriculture, Public Policy, Public Health, Natural Resource Management, Political Science, Tourism and Development. The scholars begin a three-month pre-academic training on Monday, Feb 17. Upon successful completion they will leave for the U.S. in July and August.
Universities in the United States offer many graduate degree programs that are not yet available in Myanmar’s universities. Equipping Myanmar’s future leaders with degrees in areas such as food and nutrition science, natural resources management and environmental studies, business, economics, and finance will ensure Myanmar has the technical capacity in its government, private sector, and civil society to lead the people through the increasingly complex issues of the 21st century.
The scholarship program is named after the 16th president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was born into a poor family far from the seats of power in Washington, DC and New York. Despite his humble background, Abraham Lincoln became a lawyer and a leader. He preserved the unity of the United States during the American Civil War while supporting the rights of the states and peoples of America.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with the Institute of International Education (IIE) through 2024 to offer the Lincoln Scholarships. Next month, IIE’s Myanmar partner, the Thabyay Education Foundation, will begin information sessions about the scholarship application process for the 2021 academic year. Thabyay will ensure the opportunity reaches candidates from all ethnic communities throughout Myanmar.
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