EQUITY GROUP AIRLIFTS 64 SCHOLARS TO GLOBAL UNIVERSITIES IN 2018 AS PROGRAM VALUE HITS KSHS 11.13B
This brings to 465 the number of scholars who have joined the program since inception. The ELP’s objective is to develop a generation of servant leaders with global exposure and the drive to transform the African continent
Nairobi, Wednesday, 1st August 2018…The Equity Bank airlift program to global universities has this year reached a value of Kshs 11.13 billion, with 465 scholars having secured admissions to universities abroad, including Ivy League institutions.
The 64 beneficiaries joining the program this year have been admitted on full scholarships to leading varsities in the world. Since its inception, the airlift program has seen top Kenyan students join such prestigious institutions as Harvard (22 scholars), University of British Columbia (13), Yale (13), Stanford University (7), Princeton (7), Duke (14), University of Pennsylvania (14), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) (6), Amherst College (10), Brown University (7), Cornell University (15), Dartmouth College (8), Michigan State University (9), University of Toronto (15), University of Edinburg (5), University of California, Berkeley (9), Carnegie Mellon (3) and African Leadership University (12) among others.
The Bank further extended a stipend of between Kshs 100,000 and Kshs 200,000 to each of the 64 scholars leaving the country, totaling to Kshs 11.4 million for their travel and other essentials.
Speaking during the send-off ceremony, Equity Group CEO and Executive Chairman of Equity Group Foundation Dr. James Mwangi advised the scholars to exploit the extraordinary opportunities for academic excellence, leadership training, networking and global exposure that the scholarships offer.
“This global experience is only available to a select few and will shape your mindset and set you on a path to influence your community and contribute to the socio-economic transformation of our country. Take advantage of the numerous opportunities to build global networks and get a world-class all-round education. You will inspire other secondary school students back here in Kenya to believe that they can realize their dreams and compete on the global stage with other scholars from around the world,” said Dr. Mwangi.
The 2018 cohort are part of a larger group of 12,236 scholars in the Equity Leaders Program (ELP). The students have already gone through a year’s mentorship and a paid internship program at the Bank, which is fashioned as an advanced leadership development training. ELP is run by Equity Bank and coordinated by Equity Group Foundation which is the social investment subsidiary of Equity Group Holdings Plc.
To prepare the scholars for their arrival in universities abroad, the Bank facilitated 33 ELP scholars already in international universities to come home for the Global Summer Internship Program (GSIP) run by Equity Group Foundation to mentor the 2018 applicants.
GSIP is an opportunity for ELP scholars studying in global universities to intern with Equity Group during their summer holiday. The program ensures scholars studying abroad maintain the connection to their communities in Kenya. It aims to create a community of transformative leaders who work together across borders and across sectors to drive sustainable economic growth and social progress in Africa.
The Equity Leaders Program (ELP) starts as a transition pre-university program for the top performing students in all the counties. These include the ‘A’ scholars from the renowned Wings to Fly Program for academically gifted but financially challenged children executed by Equity Group in partnership with Mastercard Foundation with support of USAID, UKAID, KfW and other partners.
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For more information, kindly contact:
| Alex Muhia Equity Bank Group T: 0763 026 007 (Office) T: 0763 618 871 (Mobile) | Geoffrey Nayema Ogilvy PR T: 0763 800 371 |
The 2018 ELP Scholars to Global Leading Universities
| NAME | KCSE GRADE | SECONDARY SCHOOL | UNIVERSITY ADMITTED TO | COUNTRY | |
| 1 | Viola Adhiambo Owiti | A | Moi Girls High School Eldoret | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| 2 | Valentine Gituti Weirungu | A- | Moi Girls High School Eldoret | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| 3 | Juliet Mutheu Otieno | A | Precious Blood Riruta | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| 4 | Abdirahman Hajj Salad | A- | Dagoretti High School | University of British Columbia | Canada |
| 5 | Joy Sere Mvoi | A- | Teresa D’Lima Girls Secondary | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China |
| 6 | Diana Wambui Njuguna | A- | Alliance Girls High School | Earth University | Costa Rica |
| 7 | Judyrose Wamuyu | A- | University of Nairobi | Sciences Po | France |
| 8 | Esther Kavini Nzau | A- | Alliance Girls High School | Ashesi University | Ghana |
| 9 | Gideon Kipruto Rono | A | Kericho High school | Budapest University of Technology | Hungary |
| 10 | Zacharia Ria Ndungu | A | Light Academy | National Institute of Technology | India |
| 11 | Felista Kemunto Obasi | A | Mary Hill Girls High School | UWC Adriatic | Italy |
| 12 | Rachel Wanjiru Kimemia | A- | Mugoiri Girls | Ecole Centrale De Nantes | Mauritius |
| 13 | Percy Chelangat Mibei | A | Kaplong Girls High School | Ecole Centrale De Nantes | Mauritius |
| 14 | Odhiambo Moses Ojwang | A | Alliance High School | Ecole Centrale De Nantes | Mauritius |
| 15 | Hellen Awuor Okelo | A- | The Kenya High School | African Leadership University | Rwanda |
| 16 | Lydiah Akinyi Jwan | A- | Alliance Girls High School | African Leadership University | Rwanda |
| 17 | Edwin Nyongesa Mukhebi | A | St. Teresa Secondary | Carnegie Mellon University | Rwanda |
| 18 | Mubari Liz Mwendwa | A | The Kenya High School | University of Cape Town | South Africa |
| 19 | Cassandra Dacha | A- | Moi Girls Nairobi | University of Cape Town | South Africa |
| 20 | June Wangari Nyaga | A- | Kabare Girls’ High School | Necmettin Erbakan University | Turkey |
| 21 | Mohamednur Ali Mohamed | A- | Alim High School | Ondokuz Mayis University | Turkey |
| 22 | Matano Mohammed Telengo | A- | Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed | Yalova University | Turkey |
| 23 | Brenda Kageni | A | Pangani Girls | University of Edinburgh | UK |
| 24 | Gabriel Ohawa | A | Kapsabet High/ Africa Leadership Academy | University of Edinburgh | UK |
| 25 | Grace Nkatha Kiruja | A- | Karima Girls High School | University of Edinburgh | UK |
| 26 | Daniel Ngoria | A- | Alliance High School | University of Manchester | UK |
| 27 | Joyce Chepngeno Bor | A | Moi Tea Girls Secondary | Bowdoin College | USA |
| 28 | Phoebe Chepkemei Lokwee | A | Alliance Girls High School | Brown University | USA |
| 29 | Purity Kemunto Bundi | A- | Sironga Girls | Carthage College | USA |
| 30 | Collins Kibet | A | Alliance High School | Colby College | USA |
| 31 | Kenneth Kiprotich | A- | Alliance High School | Columbia University | USA |
| 32 | Mumasi Benjamin Waluchio | A- | Moi Forces Academy – Nairobi | Columbia University | USA |
| 33 | Nduhiu Linda Wanjiru | A | The Kenya High School | Cornell University | USA |
| 34 | Collins Kiprotich Too | A | Litein High School | Cornell University | USA |
| 35 | Parit Jackson Tupana | A- | Alliance High School | Cornell University | USA |
| 36 | Gitahi Jeff Maina | A | Utumishi Boys Academy | Dartmouth College | USA |
| 37 | Douglas Gichohi Maina | A | Alliance High School | Duke University | USA |
| 38 | Nduhiu Ian Nderi | A | Moi High School Mbiruri | Hamilton College | USA |
| 39 | Haya Naphtal Obillo | A | Alliance High School | Harvard University | USA |
| 40 | Kimurgor Kalya | A | Moi High School Kabarak | Harvard University | USA |
| 41 | Rachael Mbuche Kiti | A- | Bahari Girls Secondary | Hillsdale College | USA |
| 42 | Ngonge Timothy Mbaga | A- | Kenyatta High Mwatate | Lafayette College | USA |
| 43 | Stephan Njumbi | A | Starehe Boys Center | M.I.T | USA |
| 44 | Veronica Wairimu Muriga | A | Kenya High School | M.I.T | USA |
| 45 | Fabian Francis Mkocheko | A | Nairobi School | Middlebury College | USA |
| 46 | Wainaina Grace Wanjiku | A | Moi Girls School Nairobi | Northwestern University | USA |
| 47 | John Faith Kasasi | A | Alliance Girls High School | Northwestern University | USA |
| 48 | Kelvin Ngure | A- | Nairobi School | Pennsylvania State University | USA |
| 49 | Ronnie Kaigua Kihonge | A | Alliance High School | Princeton University | USA |
| 50 | Lesly Chepchirchir Kemboi | A- | Moi Girls High School Eldoret | Smith College | USA |
| 51 | Ochako Hesbon Mogere | A | Kisii High | Swarthmore/Northwestern | USA |
| 52 | Abdikadir Omar Abdulle | A | Nairobi School | Tufts College | USA |
| 53 | Vallary Muhambe Muhalia | A | Alliance Girls High School | University of Chicago | USA |
| 54 | Kayeyia Roshelle Gakii | A | Precious Blood Riruta | University of Pennyslavania | USA |
| 55 | Naomi Maranga | A | Kenya High School | University of Pennyslavania | USA |
| 56 | Mirriam Chemutai | A | Alliance Girls High School | University of Pennyslavania | USA |
| 57 | Maronga Rhoda Kendi | A | The Kenya High School | University of Rochester | USA |
| 58 | Dokata Kosi | A | Butula Girls/ Africa Leadership Academy | University of Rochester | USA |
| 59 | Tracy Nyambura Wambui | A- | Precious Blood Riruta | University of Wisconsin – Madison | USA |
| 60 | Kariuki Joyce Muthoni | A | Kabare Girls | Vanderbilt University | USA |
| 61 | Mutuku Janice Mutheu | A | Moi Girls School Nairobi | Vanderbilt University | USA |
| 62 | Walter Githaiga Mwaniki | A- | Thika High School | Vassar College | USA |
| 63 | Kwena Tracy Ndore | A | The Kenya High School | Vassar College | USA |
| 64 | Mwangi Wanjiku Lorna | A | Precious Blood Riruta | Yale University | USA |
About Equity Leaders Program
The Equity Leaders Program was founded in 1998 and has since scaled up over time to benefit a total of 12,236 scholars. The program admits the top performing boy and girl in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) exams from each district in Kenya. Wings to Fly scholars who score an A in K.C.S.E. also qualify to join ELP. The Wings To Fly program aims at empowering young academically gifted scholars by supporting their access to education in public universities in Kenya and around the globe, as well as equipping them with leadership skills.
The program is centered on a rigorous internship experience that allows scholars to work as members of staff at Equity Bank branches around the country before they join university. The internships/program develops the scholars professionally, gives them real-world working experience, as well as a college savings scheme which allows scholars to fund their university education in Kenya with their internship stipends.
In addition to the pre-university internship experience, the program provides internships and leadership development experiences to scholars throughout their time in university and beyond. The leadership development model seeks to develop scholars across four program areas:
- Personal and Professional Development to enable scholars to identify their unique talents and strengths and to match their individual interests with meaningful career opportunities
- Global Exposure to encourage scholars to expand their horizons and become world class-leaders who can compete and succeed in a global marketplace
- Creativity and Innovation to empower scholars to think creatively about providing solutions to the challenges and opportunities facing communities around the world
- Community Engagement to inspire scholars to use their abilities for good and to make a positive impact on society
While developing individual scholars across these four thematic areas, the program also endeavors to create a strong network of scholars who work together across disciplines and sectors to transform their communities, their country, and the world at large.
This leadership development model is delivered through the following key initiatives:
- The Internship program which allows scholars at local universities to return for internships with Equity Group and its partners during university holidays to get professional experience while saving for their university education. The program runs for the 9-18 months between secondary school completion and the beginning of university.
- The Global Summer Internship Program which allows scholars studying at international universities to return to Africa for their summer holidays and intern with Equity Group and its partners, giving them work experience and building their professional networks on the continent
- The College Counseling program which supports Equity scholars to access admission and scholarships to some of the world’s leading universities, including the Ivy League universities in the US
- The annual Leadership Congress which allows scholars to connect with each other to form a strong community, learn about leadership and employability skills, and interact with successful leaders from various industries
- The Innovators Program which trains and develops scholars in innovation and entrepreneurship skills, allowing them to write business plans and pitch their ideas for seed funding
- The Centers of Excellence program where scholars provide residential mentorship to students at three high schools around Kenya: Kwale Girls, Nyawara Girls, and Nyagatugu Boys
- The eQademy program which encourages scholars to take Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to complement their university education with ideas from leading global thinkers
- The ELP Journals platform which encourages scholars to express themselves through writing and digital media, allowing them to share their poems, short stories, political commentary, photographs, and more with fellow scholars
- The University Chapters at campuses in Kenya and abroad that serve as platforms for interaction, networking, and activities for the scholars during their university session
- The Wings to Fly Mentorship Program which enables scholars to visit Wings to Fly high school scholarship recipients at their respective high schools to provide mentorship and academic coaching
465 ELP scholars have been admitted or are currently studying at top global universities. ELP has been developing academically bright high school graduates across five dimensions: values, skills, education, work experience and global networks.
About Global University Scholars
During their internship period, ELP invites applications from the scholars who wish to study abroad. They are taken through a rigorous college counselling program in readiness for submitting outstanding applications to top global universities. Several scholars have proceeded to study in Ivy League institutions in the USA and leading universities in Canada, UK, China, Spain, Turkey, France, South Korea, South Africa, Ghana and Rwanda.
A good number of our scholars are now working globally. Many of the scholars are also finding internship offers in globally competitive corporations thereby opening up opportunities for career development at the global level. Several of these scholars have returned to Kenya after completing their studies.
By Harriet Kwamboka
