CAIRO: Five Egyptian students were among the 23 selected by ExxonMobil for its ExxonMobil MENA Scholars Program to receive support to earn a Master's degree at a university in the United States, in geoscience, engineering, chemistry and other related fields. Since the start of the scholars program, more than 1,300 candidates from the region have applied. The scholarship has been highly selective: 23 of these candidates met the exceptional standards. ExxonMobil will continue to offer more opportunities for more outstanding students. "It is essential that we work to make a positive contribution in every location we operate. This is why ExxonMobil is investing in the education and development of Egypt young people," said Andy Wells, chairman and managing director of ExxonMobil Egypt. "We are proud to honor these accomplished students by awarding them scholarships, not only to help them pursue their studies in the critical fields of geoscience, technology, engineering or mathematics, but also to learn, grow and follow their dreams.” As a leader in the oil and gas industry, ExxonMobil commits to developing a diverse global portfolio of oil and gas resources in the most effective and efficient manner possible. In 2008, ExxonMobil initiated the MENA Scholars Program to help develop the next generation of scientific leaders from 14 countries of the region. “We truly believe that nothing is more important or more lasting than the opportunity provided by quality education. Nothing is more central to creating that opportunity than the training and development of a new generation of leaders,” Wells said, “therefore we are proud to invest in the promising starts of Mohammad from Tanta, Haitham from Cairo, Hazem from Helwan, Moetaz from Qaliub City and Ramy from Cairo and we look forward to investing in many other bright minds.” These five young Egyptians have received their Master's degrees from prestigious American universities such as Colorado School of Mines, University of Texas, University of Houston and Texas A&M University. The students have been receiving full tuition and the program also provided a stipend for housing and living expenses and included medical insurance, textbook and computer allowances, transportation to the U.S. at the inception and conclusion of the program, visa and academic support and an intensive orientation program. Wells also said: “The scholarship does not impose any restriction with regards to employment after graduation: upon the scholars' completion of the 3-month internship with ExxonMobil, they are free to select working in any other organization. However, we are honored that, of the two MENA students who have already completed their Masters... two have elected to join ExxonMobil workforce. “The ExxonMobil MENA scholars program is one of the many education programs that we have actively supported around the world and throughout our history to support economic development and opportunity. In Egypt, we are heavily involved in education initiatives such as ISHRAQ, a multi-stakeholder partnership between ExxonMobil, the Youth Council and Save the Children which gives a second chance for education to 12 to 17 year-old girls who dropped out of school, and INJAZ, a nongovernmental organization that aims to enhance Arab youth's business skills and in which more than 130 of our Egyptian employees have volunteered since 2004,” he said. The Egyptian scholars will be in Cairo in December to share their experience.
