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SUDANESE
REFUGEE EDUCATION FUND
Welcome to the
Sudanese in Kentucky Web site, where we honor the history and
recognize the accomplishments of refugees from Sudan who have resettled in the Bluegrass State. Beginning in
2001, with support from Kentucky Refugees Ministries and
Catholic Charities, several hundred Sudanese refugees put down
roots
in Louisville. They were among nearly 4,000 Sudanese refugees
to whom the United States granted asylum from the world’s
longest-running civil war, which has claimed 2 million lives and
displaced 5 million others. Known as the Lost Boys and Lost
Girls because they
mostly raised themselves after religious, ethnic, and regional
strife forced them to flee their Dinka, Didinga, and Nuer
homelands, they have endeared themselves to many
Americans because of their positive attitudes, strong work
ethic, and insatiable desire to learn.
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Meet Some of our New College
Graduates
Read a campus newspaper
article about
University of Kentucky graduate
Mabior (John) Thuch Ghack on the
Stories and Photos page.
See
Life on Campus for stories and
photos about our December 2007 graduates,
Jacob Mabil and
Akech Kwai Kwai.
The first Sudanese student from Kentucky has
earned a master's degree.
Kuany Anyieth,
left, received a master's degree in Civil
Engineering and a certificate in Environmental
Engineering from the University of Louisville.
Last year, Kuany earned dual degrees from the
University of Louisville:
a bachelor of science in Physics from the
College of Arts and Sciences and a bachelor of
science in Civil Engineering from the Speed
Scientific School. He received several
scholarships from the Sudanese Refugee Education
Fund and other organizations.
In addition to
Kuany's achievement, five
Sudanese scholars from this area received bachelor's degrees
during the 2007-2008 academic year and two
received associate's degrees. All were
recognized during the 3rd Annual Sudanese
Scholars Celebration on June 7 at Resurrection
Episcopal Church in Louisville. See the
Current Events
page for more details about the ceremony.
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Akech "Gabriel" Kwai Kwai, left, received a bachelor's
degree with dual concentration in Finance and Computer
Information Systems from Murray State
University in December 2007.
Akech, a multiple award winner from the Sudanese
Refugee Education Fund and the Woodcock
Foundation, served as an officer in several
college organizations, including the Murray
State African Forum and the Association of
Information Technology Specialists.
He is is the founder and director of
the W.E.E.P. for Southern Sudan, which promotes
equality and provides education and skills to
girls. Through his extraordinary
initiative and leadership, W.E.E.P. for Southern
Sudan successfully placed 12 top female students
from refugee camps in Kenyan secondary schools.
Making more than a dozen speeches and
presentations at religious religious and civil
groups throughout Kentucky, Gabriel secured
financial commitments that will enable all the
girls to complete high school.
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Jacob Mayol Mabil, left, earned a bachelor's
degree in Sociology from the University of
Louisville in December 2007.
A multiple award
winner from the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund
and the Woodcock Foundation, Jacob quietly but
persistently accumulated college credits, first
at Jefferson Community College and then at the
University of Louisville, while working full
time at an aluminum factory on the weekends. in
addition to earning a high grade point average
in college, he earned a five year service award
and outstanding attendance bonuses at his
company.
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Peter
Pandak Thiong, left, earned a
bachelor's degree in Agricultural and Natural
Resources from
Berea College.
At Berea, he
attracted a wide circle of friends and admirers,
including the pigs and goats he cared for on the
campus’s working farm. At nearly 6 feet 6 inches
tall, he was the biggest tractor farmer in
Madison County, Kentucky.
Peter now works
for Catholic Charities in Louisville, directing
a federally funded program to help refugees
develop sustainable agricultural projects
throughout Kentucky.
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Deng Bul Kuer,
left, earned a bachelor's degree with dual
concentration in Criminal Justice and Political
Science from
Northern Kentucky
University. He plans to attend
law school in the future. A Dean's List student
at both Northern Kentucky University and
Jefferson Community College, Deng received
multiple awards from the Sudanese Refugee
Education Fund and the Woodcock Foundation.
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Mabior
"John" Thuch Ghack, far left, earned
a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from
the
University of Kentucky.
After he arrived in Louisville in 2001, Mabior
began taking English classes at Kentucky Refugee
Ministries then later entered Jefferson
Community College (JCC), attending classes
during the day and working nights at a gas
station. He earned an associate’s degree in
science with honors from JCC and later
transferred to the University of Kentucky. He
received multiple awards from the Sudanese
Refugee Education Fund and the Woodcock
Foundation.
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Two Sudanese
students from this area received associate's
degrees during the 2007-2008 school year. Both
have received awards from the Sudanese Refugee
Education Fund:
Christine
Natiki Lokiru,
left, received an associate’s
degree in arts from
Jefferson Community
College. She will continue her
studies at the University of Louisville, where
she hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in
psychology. Christine was one of only two girls
in her entire Sudanese village of about 10,000
people to complete high school. She is believed
to be the first woman from the Didinga tribal
group in Sudan to earn a college degree in the
United States.
Abraham Deng Goch,
left, earned
an associate’s degree in Cross-Cultural Studies
from
Divine Word College,
a Catholic seminary in Epworth, Iowa. He plans
to continue his education by pursuing a
bachelor’s degree at the University of Dubuque.
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In the following
pages, you will read about other young men and women who are trying to further
their education so they can pursue careers in business, engineering,
science,
health care, social work, and the ministry, among others. Most of
the Sudanese work one or more low-wage jobs while supporting
themselves and multiple family members back in Africa. In addition
to paying for their own college expenses, many also send money so
younger siblings can attend boarding schools in Kenya and Uganda. Please
consider supporting their cause.
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