Association of Ivorians Scholarship
Association of Ivorians Scholarship
Contributed by Barbara Seale, Director of Endowment Services
A new partnership... and a new scholarship opportunity
Front row (left-right) Patrice Yapo, Christian Abaka, Thierry Bony;
Back row (left-right) Dr. Kristin Ludwig, Barbara Seale, Gilbert Kouame,
Nabihntou Ouattara, Eric Atta and Laura Beall
UT Dallas is the proud recipient of the first scholarship gift presented to a university by the Associationof Ivorians of Texas (AIT). Six AIT representatives attended a luncheon on August 8, 2007 at UT Dallas and presented a check for $3,000.00 to establish the Association of Ivorians of Texas Merit Scholarship Award. AIT plans to make $1,000 scholarship awards an annual tradition with the possibility of establishing an endowed scholarship fund in the future. Attending the luncheon were two UT Dallas alumni, Eric Atta '05 and Thierry Bony '99. Both alumni expressed their enthusiasm for creating the scholarship at UT Dallas where they are confident Ivorian students will receive an outstanding education.
AIT is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the unity of the Ivorian Community of Texas. The association adheres to three tenets, 1) facilitation of the integration of the Ivorian Community living in Texas, 2) support of students in higher education, and 3) building a financial foundation for the benefits of its membership and between Cote d' Ivoire and the State of Texas through cooperation.
Cote d' Ivoire, located on the western coast of Africa, gained independence from France in 1960. Although it is one of the smallest countries of Africa, Cote d' Ivoire is extraordinarily diverse ethnically and culturally with more than 60 ethnic groups and 61 dialects. AIT was created in 1991 and has helped Ivorians in Texas to ease their integration into the American life. Events are held year round for members and others interested in Ivorian culture. For more information regarding the scholarship contact the UTD Financial Aid Office at 972-883-4021/972-883-4036 or click here for AIT Scholarship Application Forms.
Eric Atta MS '05, Dr. Kristin Ludwig, Thierry Bony MS '99
