Gifts from alumni Stangl and Raymond inspire three scholarships for international students
March 5, 2014
The Gillings School of Global Public Health has announced the awarding of three new scholarships to current international students Nnaemeka (Emeka) Modebe, Nigerian master’s student in health policy and management; Charles Muiruri, Kenyan doctoral student in health policy and management; and Melchior Kashamuka (Kash) Mwandagalirwa, Congolese doctoral student in epidemiology.
An initial gift from alumni Michael Paul Stangl and Rebecca Raymond funded one of the awards. Because two other nominated students also were considered deserving, the Gillings Global Gateway office, formerly the School’s Office of Global Health, provided two additional scholarship grants.
Stangl received a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering degree from the School in 1986. Raymond earned a Master of Public Health in health behavior in 1984.
“Following in the generous spirit of our alumni, the Gillings Global Gateway is pleased to award the two additional scholarships to these deserving students from sub-Saharan Africa,” said Peggy Bentley, PhD, associate dean for global health at the Gillings School. “These three students truly represent the very best of our student body. They bring diverse life and work experiences to the classroom and enrich our School and University. Part of the Gateway’s mission is to help shape the next generation of global public health leaders, and these scholarships will benefit the African countries to which the students will return when their education is complete.”
Awardee Muiruri’s comment was typical of others’ responses when the students learned they had won.
“I’m greatly honored to be nominated and to receive the award,” he said. “The scholarship will go a long way toward supporting my studies at UNC and beyond.”