Arab and Chaldean Council scholarship donors pose for a picture at the Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield. Not all recipents were present for the event, which was held in conjunction with the ACC’s annual golf outing for scholarships. A total of 18 scholarships were given out this year compared with 10 from last year. PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN

WEST BLOOMFIELD— Speaking at last year’s Arab American and
Chaldean Council’s (ACC) Annual Golf Outing and Scholarship Awards Dinner, ACC
President and CEO Dr. Haifa Fakhouri promised to increase the amount of
scholarship recipients this year. She kept her word. Eighteen scholarships were
awarded to high school seniors attending college this fall, as opposed to the
10 distributed last year. The diverse group of awardees expressed gratitude to
the ACC. Some say the experience has inspired them to someday award a
scholarship to a deserving student. 
“I like to tell them I greatly appreciate this honor, and it’s
truly something like none other. By helping me they’re also helping the whole
community. Because I’m also going to support the community.  I plan on giving back to the community
in several ways. And hopefully one of them will be to provide a scholarship of
my own,” recipient Ahmad El-Moussa said.

Chaldean recipient Shantel Yousif also said she plans on
giving back to the community. “First I want to thank the ACC, because this
is the first time that I’ve won a scholarship and I applied for two… I was so
excited, and I told my teachers at my school and they were so happy for
that,” Yousif said. She’s been in the U.S. for only about two years, and
plans on pursuing a career in pharmacy.

The event was held at the Shenandoah Country Club in West
Bloomfield on June 14. It helps students in need of financial assistance for
college with the highest GPA among other applicants. Ten of the eighteen
scholarships were given by the Moroun Foundation.

 “That’s
what it’s all about is the education side. It’s about the next generation that
is coming out,” Ryan Lafontaine, event chairperson of Lafontaine
Automotive said. Bill Bullard, Oakland County Clerk and dinner chairperson,
said the students have made it their goal to strive for excellence.   Speaking at the event Marilyn
Blatnikoff of the Central Intelligence Agency encouraged youth to consider the
CIA as a potential employer in the future.

Scholarship recipients are Sabrine Jazrawi, Achraf
Alghoussaini, Janet Al-Hachami, Ahmad El-Moussa, Shantel Yousif, Rand Hana,
Mariam Mroueh, Atif Hashwi, Hanie Basma, Rany Toma, Hassan Farhat, Genan
Saghir, Noor Salem, Asmahan Alassari, Aisha Mohamed, Areej Fares, Angela
Shaeena and Chase Zebari.

“I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors. You
are the future,” ACC Board Member Helene Habib said.