Presidential Scholars Program
In 2000, the Government of National Unity in Rwanda issued and sought citizen support for Rwanda Vision 2020 as a blueprint for nation-building. A significant element of that vision is the investment in the Rwandan people. Paragraph 9 of the Forward states, "At the core of our development process will be what constitutes Rwanda's principal asset: its people. Human resources will be improved, so that Rwanda can become a knowledge-based economy".
To further Rwanda Vision 2020, another valuable partnership was formed through the government of Rwanda and Oklahoma Christian University (OC) called the Rwanda Presidential Scholar Program. Since 2006 OC has partnered with the Republic of Rwanda by providing scholarships to high school graduates who have excelled in math, science with good English skills. OC is now home to nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate students, having graduated 40. This program grew to include many other universities from California Baptist to a number of universities throughout Arkansas and Tennessee. In 2009 over 90 students received scholarships, making the total number of students near 300 in the program. These distinguished scholars were chosen through national exams and interviews and are the top choices. Following completion of their baccalaureate degrees these students will return to Rwanda to participate in continued development of Rwanda. Rwanda Outreach and Community (ROC) Partners has been key in the facilitation of this program in Rwanda from testing, to interviewing, to orienting, and helping students through the visa application process.
A parallel "student adoption" program was established at many universities providing each student with a stateside "home away from home."
