Kyrgyzstan native Mirgul Omurzakova established a scholarship for students at the school she attended 20 years ago, allowing them to pay for their university education. The scholarship is named after a volunteer who once paid for Omurzakova's university tuition.
A graduate of the Toktogul Satylganov Lyceum class of 1995 in Karakol, Mirgul Omurzakova established an annual scholarship for graduates at her school worth 58,000 soms.
This year, the first award went to 11th-grade student Azamat Oruzbaev.
According to Omurzakova, the reason for this decision was an extraordinary event in her life.
“Eric Eversmann, a Peace Corps volunteer who taught us English for two years, paid half of my first-year tuition at AUCA during difficult times. When I came back to repay the debt six months later, he refused to take it back. At that moment, I promised myself that in the future, I would definitely make such investments in someone’s education and future. The scholarship is named in his honor — Eversmann Senior Scholarship,” said the scholarship founder.
She noted that it was time to repay her debts. A competition among the students of the school she attended was announced in the spring.
“I was lucky to study in the States in 1994-1995, and at that school, I also established a scholarship in honor of my teacher. So the competition took place simultaneously in both countries,” said Omurzakova.
There were several selection criteria for choosing the finalist: the student applying for the scholarship must have studied at the lyceum for at least two years, have excellent academic and extracurricular achievements. Additionally, all applicants wrote essays about how they connect their future with the state.
The winner in Kyrgyzstan was Azamat Oruzbaev. In Omurzakova's opinion, he is a very worthy candidate.
“He is amazing. Despite a difficult family situation, he studies excellently and wants to benefit his country. Once, he won a television in a competition but took the gift to the lyceum dormitory so that all students could use it,” emphasized the scholarship founder.
According to Azamat himself, he is incredibly happy to receive this scholarship. The winner plans to study tourism management at the Kyrgyz-Turkish University "Manas" or at the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after Razakov. Azamat promised to live up to the expectations of not only his parents but also the people who believed in him.
“First of all, I would like to buy a laptop with a modem to study better. Everything else will be spent on education,” noted Oruzbaev.
He hopes to continue the chain of good deeds started by Eric Eversmann 20 years ago.
“When I grow up and have a good job, I will definitely help in the future. I am grateful to fate for the chance I have been given,” added the winner.
As Omurzakova promised, the Eversmann Senior Scholarship will be awarded to students of the Karakol lyceum annually.
Source: Sputnik Kyrgyzstan
