LOTUS Scholarship Program, Quarterly Report, FY2015, Quarter 2

Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The program aims to provide scholarships to students from Egypt to pursue higher education in the United States. As of FY2015, Quarter 2, a total of 250 students have been selected and awarded scholarships, with 112 males and 138 females representing all 27 governorates of Egypt. The program has four cohorts, with Cohort 1 and 2 students enrolled in academic programs at partner universities in the United States. Cohort 3 students completed the Bridge Year Program at the British University in Egypt (BUE) in June 2014 and began their undergraduate studies in September 2014. Cohort 4 students started the Bridge Year Program at BUE in December 2014 and will be enrolled in academic programs in September 2015. The program provides a range of activities and services to support the students, including specialized sessions for service learning projects, career mentoring and counseling, and team building retreats. In FY2015, Quarter 2, 15 specialized sessions were conducted for students undertaking service learning projects, and 61 Cohort 1 and 36 Cohort 2 students attended career mentoring sessions. Additionally, 78 career counseling sessions were conducted for 44 Cohort 1 and 34 Cohort 2 students. The program also provides opportunities for students to engage in leadership development activities, including IIE/LIA sessions on values, rights, and responsibilities, and introduction to leadership. In FY2015, Quarter 2, 50 Cohort 4 students attended three IIE/LIA sessions, and 29 Cohort 3 students attended an IIE/LIA session on sustainable development. The program has a strong focus on civic education, with 11 Cohort 1 and 5 Cohort 2 students attending Egypt Big Picture and Innovation – EGTBP seminars on civic education. The program also provides opportunities for students to engage in community service and volunteer work, with 55 Cohort 1 and 45 Cohort 2 students attending Misryati sessions for ACU, MSA, FUE, and BUE. Overall, the LOTUS Scholarship Program provides a comprehensive range of activities and services to support the students in their academic and personal development, with a strong focus on civic education, leadership development, and community service.