AU Graduates its Largest Class Ever
On June 10, Africa University graduated its largest class to date. More than 950 students from 19 countries received degrees. Over 60 percent of the new alumni are women.
One graduate is Sandrine Ishimwe of Rwanda. Studying business management in the College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance, she credits AU with opening her eyes and opening doors to new possibilities.
“I learned to mix and mingle with different nationalities,” Ishimwe said. “I learned different languages through my classmates and friends. I learned teamwork, working under pressure and integrity. On top of that, Africa University taught me honesty in everything.”
Ishimwe would love to manage a business, where she can implement the skills that she honed at AU and promote Pan-Africanism.
The 29th graduation ceremony was marked by firsts. Collins Prempeh from Ghana, the first Deaf student from the Institute of Theology and Religious Studies, graduated with a Bachelor of
Divinity degree. In addition, the first doctoral cohort of six received the Ph.D. in Peace and Governance from the College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance.
The 2023 graduating class hailed from Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For more detailed stories on the 2023 Commencement, visit www.support-africauniversity.org.
Register Now for 10th Annual WBLJH Golf Invitational
Registration is open for the 2023 Wespath-Bishop
L. Jonathan Holston Golf Invitational (BLJHGI)
Benefiting Africa University.
The tournament takes place at the Orangeburg Country Club on Monday, September 25, 2023. The event brings together participating golfers and friends from across the U.S. in support of scholarships and other needs at United Methodist-related Africa University in Zimbabwe, southern Africa. Sign up your team or explore these sponsorship options
Wespath Institutional Investments is continuing its support as the lead sponsor. Interested persons and businesses can enter a fourperson team ($500) or take advantage of other sponsorship opportunities, including Friends of Africa University ($1,000), Friends of the Bishop ($600), Lunch ($500), Friends of Hope ($250), or hole sponsorships ($150). Beyond entering a team in the tournament, churches can participate as AU Ambassadors by making a gift of $150 or more.
EOC-funded Dormitory Construction Underway
Steady progress is being made on the construction of a new dormitory to house female students at Africa University. The foundation is in place, the bricklayers are at work on the walls, and the students are following the progress of construction with keen interest.
In a video shared by Bishop Tracy S. Malone during her Episcopal Address to the 2023 East Ohio Annual Conference gathering, current students thanked members for their generosity.
The East Ohio Conference raised and collected more than $1.5M for the Teach*Reach*Bless campaign.
Initiated by Bishop Malone and launched in June 2019, the campaign surpassed its goal six months earlier than expected, despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
The dormitory addresses the growing demand for on-campus housing at Africa University, where women represent about 58 percent of the student population. Construction of the 3-storey, 90-bed facility began in February and is scheduled to be completed in October.
Scholarship Endowments Remain a Top Priority in Beyond 30 Campaign
Do you recall receiving a gift that changed your life? Through scholarships and financial aid, many students enrolled at Africa University receive an education that changes their lives.
The support students receive is made possible by the university's more than 200 endowed funds. Gifts provided by the late Fentress Boone Waits, an educator, enabled 2023 graduate Faith Makaniso to earn her degree in medical laboratory sciences.
“Studying at Africa University was a life-changing experience for me,” said Makaniso. “The university helped me grow as a person, academically, and profession-
ally. The courses I enrolled in, the professors I came across, and the people I met, gave me invaluable life lessons and learning experiences.”
Endowed contributions made today advance our mission and will touch the lives of students we will never meet. They are a key focus of our 30th anniversary campaign, Beyond 30: Powering an Evolving Dream. For gifts beginning at $10,000, donors can establish named and endowed scholarships, which support the efforts of students to meet their educational goals.
If establishing an endowment fund interests you, please let us know. Consult your attorney or financial advisor about what will
be most advantageous for your charitable, estate, and tax planning.
Gifts to the Beyond 30 campaign must be received by December 31, 2023. Letting us know that you've designated Africa University to receive an estate gift allows us to recognize your generosity by inducting you into the Richard E. "Dick" Reeves Legacy Society.
To learn more about supporting Africa University’s transforming ministry, visit the planned giving website at http://www.africau.plannedgiving.org/ Or, call or write our Director of Planned Giving, Josefa Bethea Wall, Africa University Development Office, P. O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN, 372030007, 615.340.7428 (office), jbetheawall@ gbhem.org
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AU's Focus for AC2023 Season: Appreciation
As the 54 annual conferences of The United Methodist Church located in the United States gathered for worship, fellowship, and to conduct their business for 2023, Africa University was there to say, ‘thank you’, and update supporters with new digital resources.
Every annual conference received a brief 'thank you' video, digital banners and a report on the missional impact of its ongoing investment in Africa University Fund.
The videos feature current students and
are available here for local congregations and friends.
United Methodists across all five jurisdictions continue to show great generosity and a deep commitment to making a difference through Africa University.
Sharing stories of the impact of students, faculty and alumni, university champions are helping congregations to appreciate how their gifts to support Africa University’s day-to-day operations contribute to a global legacy of peace, justice, and abundance.
Important Notice: Email Address Change
The Africa University Development Office (AUDO) and Africa University (Tennessee) Inc. have a new email platform: @africau. org.
New email addresses are first initial+surname@africau.org (example: jdoe@africau.org). Please take a moment to update your address book or whitelist our new email addresses to avoid missing any important updates from Africa University in the future.
For questions or assistance, call us at (615) 340-7438 or email: audevoffice@africau.org.