Kenyan pupils land prestigious US study scholarship

Three class eight pupils from non-formal schools in the country have been awarded full scholarships to study at prestigious private schools in the United States.

The pupils, Josephine Nyakundi, Geoffrey Emali Ahura and Grace Kerubo Nyanchoka, have been awarded the scholarship worth Sh20 million for their outstanding academic performance, commitment to the community and leadership skills despite coming from slum areas.

Josephine has been awarded a full scholarship to the Rabun Gap School in Georgia, while Geoffrey and Grace have been accepted by Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton.

The pupils have been studying at Bridge International Academies in Nairobi, Kisii and Nakuru – and which is supported by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg.

Bridge International Academies – operates 405 nursery and primary schools in Kenya with a population of 100,000 pupils in slum areas.

“Saint Andrews and Rabun Gap will provide the pupils with admission to the school and a scholarship to cover all costs on campus,” said Lucy Bradlow the Academies Director of PR.

She added that this will also include tuition, room and full board, a school uniform, books and materials for class, and all fees (including those needed to participate in athletics events, art activities, other co-curricular activities, and educational field trips off campus).

“This amount will be paid entirely by Saint Andrews and Rabun Gap. Bridge International Academies will supplement these generous scholarships by covering costs of flight to the United States, casual and formal clothes, a mobile phone and computer, and housing during school holidays,” said Ms Bradlow.

She said Bridge will also provide academic and social preparation for the pupils with Bridge staff in the United States providing extra lessons to prepare the pupils for secondary school in the US.

“In return for the scholarships, Josephine, Grace and Geoffrey will tutor at their respective alumni academies during each summer holiday when they are home in Kenya,” added Ms Bradlow.

She said the scholarships will be for 4 years—the entire duration of secondary school and the pupils will complete the United States High School curriculum, in classes with a pupil to teacher ratio of 8:1.

“They will have opportunities to be a part of the schools’ extensive sports, music and arts programmes,” added Ms Bradlow.

“These scholarships are the first of many that Bridge hopes to offer its pupils to turn dreams into realities,” said the director.

They were selected from a pool of 2,900 KCPE candidates who sat for this year’s examination.