Eugenemat presents $15,000 scholarship to needy student

A 20-year-old needy, brilliant student has received a $15,000 scholarship to study Mining Engineering at the University of Alberta in Canada.

The scholarship, instituted by Eugenmat Travel and Consult, a travel agency in Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, includes the procurement of birth certificate, passport, Canadian entry visa, admission fees and student residential accommodation, among others.

Studying abroad is the dream of many international students. But it’s expensive, and without financial help, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve.

Financial aid and funding are the only ways some international students can make their dreams come true.

It has proven difficult for some people to access both local and international scholarships to study abroad, but the dream of a young SHS graduate, Beatrice Frimpong, to study abroad has finally come to pass.

Beatrice, a former student of T. I. Ahmadiyya in Kumasi, was selected among hundreds of applicants who took part in the Eugenmat Travel and Consult's 2024 scholarship awards for needy, brilliant students.

The scheme offers two students between 19 and 24 years with 100 per cent scholarships valued at $30,000 to study in Canada every year.

Motivation

Throwing more light on the rationale behind the scholarship scheme at a presentation ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eugenmat Travel and Consult, Obuasi, Eugene Kofi Amankwaa, said his motivation stems from his personal experience of facing financial challenges before completing his first degree.

"My motivation to support young students to realise their dreams stems from my personal experience growing up. It took the intervention of a former Ashanti Regional Minister, John Alexander Ackon, for me to complete a university education. Now that my business is thriving, I have to also support others who are in similar situations,” he said.

He encouraged Miss Frimpong to take her studies seriously when she gets to Canada to become a useful and productive member of society.

Mr Amankwaa also urged other business moguls to come to the aid of such brilliant, needy students to help eradicate crime and waywardness in society.

Transparency

The Obuasi Municipal Director of Education, George Alfred Koomson, commended Eugenmat Travel and Consult for its contributions towards society, especially in the area of education.

He was particularly excited about the transparent nature of the scholarship, emphasising the need to always prioritise merit and competence over other considerations.

"As you may know, the government is supporting senior high school students with the free senior high school policy. After this, there is another hurdle, which is tertiary education, which comes at a cost.

“For Eugenmat to go the extra length to invest in the education of these young girls, it's something worth commending," he said.

Other supports

Mr Koomson talked about other support and interventions Eugenmat had lined up for the educational sector, including support for best BECE graduates, as well as support for the 2024 teachers’ awards in Obuasi East.

Ms Frimpong, who was full of excitement, was expectant of the opportunities ahead and said she could not wait to start school.

She commended Eugenmat Travel and Consult for the opportunity to realise her lifelong dream of accessing international education.