When a celebration is in order, pitch a tent, order a cake and get an MC in a bright yellow blazer. Get together a group of bright young minds, faculty members and the Vice Chancellor and you have yourself a party.

This is exactly what the Financial Aid Office (FAO) did for their Annual Scholars Luncheon. On the afternoon of Friday, November the 11th, FAO, under the leadership of its Manager, Kevin Muchemi, gathered the top achievers of the class of 2022 – beneficiaries of the various financial aid services who graduated with first class honours at this year’s graduation ceremony. They also brought in new students, to give them a chance to interact with those who have gone before them, and model their own path accordingly.

The atmosphere was energetic and infectious as the MC (in his bright yellow blazer) led everyone in dance after dance in time with the music provided by the DJ. With all the different nationalities represented at the luncheon, the music took us on a journey across the different corners of Kenya, and on to Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and Nigeria. Everyone was on their feet, following along with the moves – yes, even Dr. Ogutu, the Vice Chancellor, and Stephen Ng’ang’a, the University Registrar.

Did you know that the Financial Aid Office, which is celebrating its 10^th year anniversary, offers four different services to Strathmore Students? They offer scholarships – both full and partial, student loans, work-study programmes and grad prep counselling. What started off as a scholarship office was organized and formalized in 2012 to become the Financial Aid Office. Between 2001 – 2022, the office has seen over 10,000 students receive an education at Strathmore through financial aid.

During the Scholar’s Luncheon, the FAO team were introduced and celebrated for their hard work. We also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of lecturers, faculty, administration and support staff. Each school and department within the university was represented and took part in celebrating the brilliant students they had worked with over the last four or five years.

Each scholar was recognized and appreciated with a certificate, presided over by the Vice Chancellor. Before the awarding ceremony, Dr. Ogutu shared his personal experience as a beneficiary of financial aid. He called on the students to make use of this gift and in turn gift the next person by paying back their loans, contributing financially or offering their time as teachers and mentors. “I am also a beneficiary of financial aid from high school all through to my PhD. My call to you; Pay it forward!”.

To further recognize students who went over and above their academics while at Strathmore, the Financial Aid Office awarded plaques to the following scholars;

The FAO Scholar of the year ~ Patel Amay Kumar, Bachelor of Commerce

FAO Leadership Award ~ Jane Mich Awour, Bachelor of Business Science; Financial Engineering

FAO Work-Study Award ~ Bernice Nyambura Maina, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies

FAO International Scholar Award ~ Young Israel Izere, Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Computer Science

If ever there was an occasion to celebrate, this was it! Both for the Financial Aid Office and more importantly, the students who overcame financial difficulty to emerge as top scholars of the class of 2022.

This article was written by Celia Kinuthia.