Changing Lives: IC’s Scholars Program

Inthe elegant living room of her Gemayze apartment, Mishka Mourani’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she discussed one of her favorite topics: The IC Scholars Program.

“I am still in touch with many of them,” said IC’s former Senior Vice President. “I am so proud of them.”

She opens a paper listing over 100 graduates from 1997 to 2017—her last year as IC’s Senior VP—and lists their accomplishments.

“She’s at Harvard. He’s pursuing his PhD at MIT. He’s now a doctor. She’s at Stanford,” she said.

It was 1999 when the first group of scholars came to IC. They had heeded a newspaper ad that IC sought outstanding students to join its classes. There were conditions, of course. They should have passed the brevet with at least a ‘mention très bien,’ had to be at the top of their classes at their school, passed IC’s entrance exam with flying colors, and had proof they were in financial need.

In return, IC would provide six students each year with a three-year fully paid scholarship, transportation, and book allowance.

“We opened it up to schools from all over the country,” recalled Mourani. “The schools were not thrilled about losing their best students, but it was an opportunity for these kids they would never have dreamed of.”

Mourani recalls the start of the scholarship program vividly. It was 1997, and IC was beginning its first accreditation process. It happened that an alumnus was dining at the Mourani household and discussing the accreditation process when he proposed an intriguing idea.

“I’d like to help IC students facing financial difficulties,” he said. “Especially students of satisfactory standing, like I once was. And yet, I have done very well in my career. From now on, instead of traveling first class, I will travel economy and donate the difference to IC.”

Then and there, he committed to covering the tuition of ten IC students until graduation (this would eventually become part of the current and ongoing tuition assistance program at IC).

A few months later, Mourani found herself once again discussing scholarships during a meeting with visiting board member Lachlan Reed, the grandson of IC’s founder in Turkey, Rev. Alexander MacLachlan.

“What are we doing to attract gifted young people to IC?” Reed asked her. “Only those who can afford IC come. What about others?”

Mourani volunteered to write a proposal. Thus, the IC Scholars Program was born: a three-year scholarship that included tuition, transportation, and book fees, in addition to counseling services to help students integrate into the school culture. In 1999, the first six students were selected. Subsequently, starting from the third year, there would be a total of 18 scholars at IC every year.

The responsibility for funding the program was entrusted to the capable hands of the Alumni Department. In his office at Thomson Hall, Moufid Beydoun ‘64, the VP for Alumni and Major Gifts, joined IC two years after the Scholars Program began. Since IC does not fund this program from its own resources, part of Beydoun’s role is to secure donors for the program.

“IC has always been committed to our community,” he explained. “We care about our surroundings and want to give young people, not just IC students, a chance to improve their lives.”

By the time Mourani retired in 2017, she had seen 200 students go through the Scholars Program.

In 2019, the Ali Ghandour Center for Leadership, Diversity, and Civic Engagement (AGC) was established. With joint funding from IC and the Ghandour family, the center aims to strengthen the school’s ethos and mission. Headed by Rindala Abdel Baki, it is the region’s first secondary school initiative, linking the Scholars Program with giving back to the community. Through a sequential three-year program, students are enabled to become agents of change in their communities while enriching the diversity of the student body at IC.

Like the Scholars Program, the AGC employs a highly selective process. This includes conducting home visits to understand the candidates’ family context better, and an additional step of visiting public and subsidized schools to recruit top-performing students. Selected students receive full financial and psychosocial support.

By 2024, 140 students, including 42 scholarship recipients, had participated in the AGC program. Each year, an average of eight scholarship students join alongside a selected cohort of IC students in a journey that starts with extensive volunteering and training and culminates in leading their own Community Service Projects (CSPs).

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AGC students’ enriched profiles are highly regarded by international and local universities seeking well-rounded, skilled, and impactful additions to their student bodies.

“This is a true transformative journey for the scholarship students as well as for the IC students who have joined the program,” said Abdel Baki. “The rich exposure to real-life challenges and the genuine relationships leave their marks on the students who gain invaluable insights and resilience, and are prepared to be proactive, empathetic leaders making meaningful contributions to society.”

Maya Chebaro ‘05, IC Middle School Director

Receiving the scholarship to attend International College was a critical turning point in my life. Without this opportunity, I believe my life would have been vastly different, primarily because my parents, both public sector employees, wouldn’t have been able to afford such a prestigious education. This would have significantly limited my academic and professional choices.

It all started when Dad spotted a newspaper ad for the Scholars Program. He cut it out and handed it over to me, saying, “Check this out, and let’s see if you can work towards it.” I was in grade 8. Two years later, it materialized!

The scholarship provided me with an exceptional education and laid a solid foundation for my future studies at AUB, where I pursued a degree in Biology and a Masters in Neuroscience. The rigorous academic environment at IC prepared me well for the challenges and high expectations at the university level.

Had it not been for this scholarship, I might not have been in a position even to consider a career in education, particularly at such a renowned institution like IC.

Nora Chokr ‘08, Assistant Professor and Hematologist

I graduated from the IC Scholars Program in 2008. I am currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. I am a hematologist focusing on bone marrow/stem cell transplantation and cell therapies for patients with blood cancers.

I am grateful to have had the chance to be part of IC’s wonderful and nurturing community. It opened doors of opportunities and shaped me as a person. IC sets students on a path filled with possibilities and opportunities. Beyond academics and extracurriculars, IC brought me closer to peers and mentors who influenced my personal and professional development. I formed deep connections with classmates, creating a support network that extends far beyond high school. These friendships are still a source of encouragement, inspiration, and collaboration every day. Above all, I met my husband, Rayan Beydoun, in IC, and we now have a beautiful daughter.

The pride of being an IC student will never fade away!

My journey from a scholarship recipient to becoming the middle school director at the same institution is a testament to the powerful impact that access to quality education can have on an individual’s life. It’s more than just financial support; it’s about recognizing potential and giving individuals the means to achieve their fullest potential.

Therefore, I firmly believe I would not be where I am today without the IC scholarship. This program is crucial as it opens doors for talented individuals who, due to financial constraints, might not have the opportunity to excel and contribute effectively to society. The Scholars Program at IC not only transforms the lives of individuals but fosters a culture of giving and success that benefits the entire community.

Hadi Ramadan ‘07, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital

International College (IC) has been instrumental in shaping my life and guiding me to where I am today. IC provided me with a strong foundation that facilitated my acceptance into the American University of Beirut (AUB) and, subsequently, AUB Medical School. The academic rigor and social skills I developed at IC were crucial in achieving my goals. Moreover, IC blessed me with lifelong friends who continue to enrich my life and offer invaluable support. Thanks to the comprehensive education and network I gained at IC, I am now graduating as an infertility specialist from Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School and have accepted a position as a Harvard Clinical Instructor alongside my clinical responsibilities.