U.S. embassy assists top Zambian students in attending top U.S. universities

Lusaka – Thirteen of Zambia’s highest achieving students selected to participate in the U.S. Embassy’s elite Fulbright, Humphrey and United States Student Achievers Program (USAP) programs attended a pre-departure orientation at the U.S. Embassy on July 28, 2011.

The Education Advisor at the U.S. Embassy works closely with the students throughout the year, assisting them as they apply for admittance and scholarships to U.S. colleges and universities.

Chargé d’Affaires Stephen Schwartz opened the pre-departure orientation for these students who have been granted full scholarships through U.S. government.

The students were briefed on many topics ranging from the rigorous academic environment and the different social norms of campus life to the basics of setting up a bank account and getting a cell phone.

Chargé Schwartz urged the students to educate Americans about Zambia and to be ambassadors of Zambia. He also urged students to take full advantage of all opportunities while in the U.S. so they can return to Zambia with knowledge, skills and ideas to contribute to building the nation.

The United States Student Achievers Program, which launched in 2009, emphasizes the responsibility the students have after they complete their studies to return home and use their skills to contribute to Zambia’s development.

This year eight Zambians will attend colleges and universities including Harvard, Amherst, and Massachuesettes Institute of Technology (MIT) through the assistance of the Education Advisor and USAP.

Ms. Namoonga Mantina, who has been accepted to pursue studies in Health and Society at Beloit College in Wisconsin said, “the USAP program has helped me to appreciate my culture even more and give appreciation to the diversity that we have as country. It has also helped me come up with ideas on how I can share that diversity with my colleagues in the US.”

Mr. Wigganson Matandiko, who has been accepted to pursue his Fulbright PhD studies in Fish and wildlife Biology at Montana State University in Bozeman said, “this has been a long walk.

Going to the United States is a dream that has come true. We want to tap into the knowledge of the American people. We want to know what makes this nation so great, and we are enthusiastic about achieving something when we come back from the United States.”