On behalf of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team at ASU, I am very delighted to welcome you to our 2021 Mastercard Scholars Fall Reception for the SIL Phase II last cohort of Scholars. Despite COVID-19 pandemic disruption, our Scholars joined African-based and international organizations to do in-country internships, virtual internships, research, volunteer, and remote skills development programs resulting in a rewarding summer experience. Over the past years, the Scholars fall reception has served as a vital event to welcome the Scholars to the ASU campus community, meet our stakeholders, and showcase their summer experiences showing the positive impacts their various summer activities are making at the local and global levels.
This year’s fall reception is a celebration of an extraordinary summer experience navigating unprecedented circumstances during a global pandemic to make a difference. Although our Scholars were unable to participate in normal in-person summer activities requiring travels and face to face engagement around the world, the Scholars participated in a wide range of alternative summer activities by taking advantage of technology and local resources to gain hands-on experiences in diverse areas of interests ranging from Engineering, Business, Global Management, and Community Service opportunities.
Our 2021 Scholars summer experience would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our dedicated partners in Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ashesi University. Both institutions played critical roles ensuring the Scholars received needed support and resources to complete their summer activities. Our collaborative efforts in support of the Scholars to successfully complete meaningful summer experience during a global pandemic is a testament to our enduring partnership and commitment to provide rich and relevant learning opportunities for Scholars to cultivate important educational and professional development necessary to make a difference on the African continent and around the world upon graduation from ASU.
On behalf of the Scholars presenting on their summer experiences, our dedicated team in ASU and partners in Ghana, academic units, stakeholders, and community members, we are very excited to present to you the fulfilling summer experiences of the last cohort of our Scholars Program under the ASU SIL Phase II Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ashesi University in Ghana. We hope you enjoy exploring the series of the 2021 impactful Scholars summer experience showcase.
Abubakar Idris, PhD.
Assistant Director
Mastercard Scholars Program
Arizona State University