The Bethlehem Association Scholarship Fund

The Bethlehem Association maintains a scholarship fund to provide financial aid for the education and training of capable and needy students from the Bethlehem, Beit-Jala, Beit-Sahur area at Bethlehem University. The fund consists of:

1. Individual Family Scholarships that are maintained and supported by various donors from the named families.
2. A General Scholarship supported by contributions from the general membership.

It is administered independently by the Scholarship Committee in accordance with the objectives of the donors in the case of the family contributions and those of the Board of Directors in the case of the general contributions.

• GRADUATING STUDENTS:
  Twenty five to thirty scholarships are granted each year to students at Bethlehem University. An average of seven students graduate each year. Nine Students Graduated in 2006 and Six students are graduating this June (2007). A reception is held in Bethlehem to honor the students, their parents and the scholarships sponsors. This year's reception is being held at the Bethlehem Peace Center on June 9, 2007. It will honor graduates from 2006 and 2007 and their parents. Mr. Albert G. Hazboun and wife Lily will attend the University commencement ceremonies on June 8 and will host the reception, June 09, on behalf of the Bethlehem Association together with Mr. Michel Nasser, Director of the Peace Center.  Mayor Victor Batarseh, Msgr. Fouad Twal and Bro. Jack Curran were invited to join representatives of the Bethlehem families who sponsored the scholarships to honor the graduates and their parents.  See Reception Invitation for June 2007.

• AWARDEES:
  Scholarships are awarded on an annual basis and are normally disbursed at the beginning of the Fall semester. Since the inception of the program, the Association has helped over 250 students.  Around twenty five awards are granted each academic years.  The awards usually pay the full tuition fees. Most of the Scholarships go to students attending Bethlehem University primarily to encourage young people to stay in their home town.  See Lists and Photos of Current & Past Awardees.
   

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• GRADUATES:

  My name is Rana Hanna Handal; I am a recipient of the Handal Family Scholarship. I express my great thanks and sincere gratitude to the Bethlehem Association Scholarship and the Handal Family for their kind support. I’m now a newly graduated student of 2007 with Computer Information Systems Bachelor degree.  I would like to thank you for your support on behalf of my family who are so grateful for your help.

  I am Abeer Kharoufeh from Beit-Jala. After four years of study I graduated in June 2006 with a Bachelor degree in Accounting. During these four years I received a Bethlehem Association Scholarship. I am very grateful to the Dabdoub Family who sponsored my scholarship. Without this aid I would have been unable to continue my study due to the occupation that is divesting our country and stripping us of our property and livelihood. I would like to thank the Bethlehem Association and especially Mr. & Mrs. Robert Dabdoub who supported and helped my academic achievement through the generous financial aid provided to pay for all my tuition fees. Your help meant a lot for me and I thank each member of your Association.

  My name is Rawan Kheir, I am a recipient of the William and Blanca Hubbell scholarship of the Bethlehem Association.  I would like to thank the Association and Mr. & Mrs. Hubbell for the great help you provided to enable me to attend Bethlehem University. After four years of study, I have graduated last month, June 2006,  with a Bachelor degree in Physical Therapy. I was on the Dean’s list with a GPA of 3.38. I am looking forward to starting a career in Physical Therapy which is very much needed after so many people, young and old, have been maimed and injured during the never ending military occupation of our country. I am very grateful to you all and thank you again for your generosity.

  I am Rasha Hazineh from Bethlehem. A 4th year student at Bethlehem University studying physiotherapy and my GPA is 3.49. I will graduate June 2006. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Two of them are married (my older sister and brother) and the other 2 are single. My younger brother is at Bethlehem University studying Business. My father died in 1995. My mother is unable to work. The political situation is becoming worse each day and it affects badly the economic situation. As I’m training in the hospitals, which are in different areas in Palestine, I spend too much money on transportation, renting a place to stay for the night, daily food and my expenses at the university. So I’m thankful to Juan & Slema Morcos for sponsoring my Bethlehem Association scholarship. It has made it possible for me to complete my studies without placing a heavy load on my family. Once again, thank you for giving me this chance to improve myself and be a good physiotherapist who can help and assist her country in the near future.

  “I am very ambitious, sociable, and active with Christian youth organizations.  I like to help others because this makes me feel happy.  I am hoping to not only be a successful businesswomen but to also have a nice family.  I feel blessed to be a student at Bethlehem University.” Manar Giacaman '04, recipient of a Bethlehem Foundation Scholarship, has a 3.0 GPA majoring in Accounting.  She is from Bethlehem.

  "My Bethlehem University education changed my life!  I still feel that the University faculty and my colleagues are like my family.  The University has provided me with such good preparation for my life’s work as a medical social worker.  Without the scholarship support that I received, I would not have been able to complete my studies. Thanks to all for your support and encouragement!”  Jumana Al-Ali ’00, recipient of a Bethlehem Association Scholarship, graduated from the Arts Faculty with a major in Social Work. She is employed as a medical social worker in Beit Jala.

• HOW TO APPLY:
  To apply for these scholarships students must fill detailed application forms supplied by the Association. These are available from the Dean of Students at Bethlehem University and from the principal at the main high schools in the Bethlehem area. They are also required to send recommendations from their teachers and original transcripts of their grades. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required from students attending the University and a Tawjihi score above 75% for high school graduates. Applications must be received before April 30 of each year. Go to the link below for Detailed Instructions and an Application Form in Adobe Acrobat, PDF format:
   
  • 2008 Application Requirements [adobe acrobat]
  • 2008 Application Form [adobe acrobat]
    The student must carefully read and follow the application requirements. The requirements page must be signed by the student and sent with the completed application form.
     
• LETTERS FROM STUDENTS:
  
  To illustrate to our members and supporters how worthwhile their contributions are we will periodically enter in this section letters from the students themselves. Here are a few:

  Shurouq G. Handal
  I would like to thank you and all your members for the Scholarship you granted me this year. It was a God send because the University fees had gone up and my parents were not sure about sending me to University, they could not afford it. My parents thank you warmly especially the Handal Family who contributed to the Scholarship. Warm greetings to all from me and my family.

  George AbuHamameh
  My sincere thanks to the Hazboun Hazboun family for continuing my Scholarship at Bethlehem University. Due to your assistance and generosity I have been able to finish 3 years of my studies in Business Administration. As promised, I kept my grades above 3.00 throughout the three years. This will be my fourth and last year. I hope to graduate next June 2000. I invite you all to come and attend our Happy Graduation during the Millennium celebrations.

  Nuveen Za’mout
  My family and I thank you for your help without which I would not to be able to attend the University. My sister and brother graduated during the last two years and so far have not been able to find a job. I have another brother at University and my grandmother and aunt are living with us. My father is the only one working. We are all so grateful for your help.

  Jumana al Ali
  Thank you a lot for renewing my scholarship for 1999 academic year and very special thanks to Shafiq, Domingo and Nagib Handal and the other Handal family who contributed to the scholarship. This year is my last year, and everything is getting harder, because we have a lot of work and exams to do. I also have my second year of training, and I'm doing it again at the Guidance and Training Center for family and children, under the supervision of Dr. Viveca Hazboun. I'm very happy there, because I am learning a lot of practical things and how to handle patients! I hope that we keep in touch. Thank you a lot and special greetings to the Handal family.

Adel Samir Hazboun
I would like to thank you for regranting me the Saleh Said Hazboun Scholarship from the Bethlehem Association. I am a Senior now having completed seven semesters towards my Business Degree. I have been able to maintain good grades as you can see from my transcript. I will be graduating at the end of this semester on June 19. I thank you on behalf of my family who are so pleased to see that our extended family really cares about helping us here in Bethlehem.

Faten Y. Sleibi
Thank you very much for extending your trust in me by granting me a Bethlehem Association Scholarship. I have not done as well as I expected in my studies during the past semester because the living conditions in Bethlehem were very difficult for my family. I promise to work harder and get higher marks in the coming year. Thank you for your assistance and best wishes to all your members who made it possible. Special greetings from my parents.

• WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP AND CONTRIBUTIONS:
  We receive a large number of applications every summer from really deserving students.  Due to the limited funds, we sadly have to turn down many qualified applicants. We appeal to our members and supporters to help in this worthwhile effort. You cannot find a better cause to support than the education of these bright young minds and to encourage them to stay in their home town. Our future in Bethlehem depends on them.
  
  As of May 2007,  fifteen Family Scholarships have been established by members of the following families:
  Anton Issa Hazboun, Saleh Said Hazboun, Handal Family, Robert & Alecia Dabdoub, John Peter Dabdoub, Hanna Essa Kawas, Bishara & Marie Morcos, Hazboun George Hazboun, Joseph Anton Hazboun, William & Blanca Hubbell, Dwayne & Abeer Handal-Banks, William & Nawal Shahin, Ijha-Canawati, Francis Dibsy, Bishara & Elena Kawas.
  If you are interested in setting up your own Family Scholarship, please contact, the Scholarship committee chairman, Dr. Edward A. Hazboun at:  610-353 2010, Betsoc@comcast.net  or fill in and send the form below.
  
  We are far from achieving our objective of not turning down really deserving and needy students. A lot more help is needed. Your contributions, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.  Please click the link below to send your contribution.

  Click here to help students in Bethlehem