5th Annual Event Celebrates Largest Graduating Class
The Sudanese Refugee Education Fund recognized college graduates from the 2009-2010 school year at a June 5 ceremony at Resurrection Episcopal Church in Louisville. Thirteen new college graduates, the largest in the organization's 5-year history, received master's, bachelor's, and associate's degrees from colleges throughout Kentucky.
Louisville Metro Government Councilman Hal Heiner addressed the graduates. Carol Young, former executive director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries, and Sandy Milner, Sudanese Refugee Education Fund Secretary and board member, received special recognition from the Sudanese community in Louisville for their years of service.
Photos: Top left, Louisville Metro Council member Hal Heiner congratulates Abraham Marok, a graduate student at the University of Louisville's Speed Scientific School, for receiving academic honors from theNational Society of Black Engineers; top right, Hakim Yanga, chairman of the Sudanese community in Louisville, honors Carol Young, former executive director of Kentucky Refugee Ministries; bottom left, Sudanese Refugee Education Fund Treasurer Akech Kwai presents an award to SREF Secretary and board member Sandy Milner.
Sudanese Student Headlines Community Showcase
David Aciek, a student at Jefferson Community & Technical College who has received several scholarships from the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund, shared his experiences and accomplishments at Cultural Showcase Sudan on Saturday February 20. The event, sponsored by the Iroquois branch of the Louisville Free Public Library through the efforts of Community Outreach Coordinator Sophie Maier, featured speakers and films about Sudan.
Photos below: (Top left) Kenyan filmmaker Andrew Thuita showed clips and discussed his 2007 documentary Escape from Darfur; Sudanese Refugee Education Fund (SREF) board member and Secretary Sandy Milner is at far right. (Top right) Hakim Yanga, chairman of the Sudanese Association of Louisville and a student at Indiana University-Southeast, spoke to the audience. (Bottom left) SREF board member James M. Malou, a 2009 graduate of the University of Louisville, discussed current issues in Sudan. (Bottom right) Lino L. Nakwa, a 2009 graduate of Transylvania University, thanks the scholarship organization and the Louisville community for supporting Sudanese refugees. (Photos courtesy of Dustin Strong, branch manager of the Iroquois library.
CE&S Foundation Boosts Sudanese Success
The Sudanese Refugee Education Fund is proud to announce its first grant from The CE&S Foundation. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the foundation has been identifying, funding, and nurturing projects and organizations in the field of higher education, international cooperation, and improvements to the urban environment since 1984.
This generous grant of $2,000 will help fund scholarships to qualified Sudanese students with ties to Louisville for the Fall 2010 term. The Sudanese Refugee Education Fund is honored to be recognized by The CE&S Foundation and is grateful for its contribution.
YUM! Brands Foundation Extends Support to Sudanese Scholars
Louisville-based YUM! Brands Foundation has awarded a new $2,500 grant to the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund, building on its past support for the scholarship organization. The foundation committed $15,000 in two prior grants.
The new grant will help the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund provide larger scholarships to qualified students so they can keep up with the rising costs of tuition and fees during the Spring 2010 semester.
Photos below: (Left) Sudanese Refugee Education Fund (SREF) Founder Holly Holland and her husband, John Herzfeld, talk to SREF board member James M. Malou and his wife, Nyawut, at the YUM! Brands 2009 fundraiser for the World Food Program. (Right) WHAS Radio personality Terry Meiners greets Lino L. Nakwa (far right) and Ngor Biar Deng at the World Food Program event, which was held at the Henry Clay building in Louisville on Oct. 9, 2009.
Sudanese Musicians, Speakers Reach out to the Louisville Community
Members of the Louisville Sudanese Rebaba Drummers and Musicians performed a twilight concert on Saturday September 12 to kick off the Jewish New Year festivities at Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Louisville. The Rebaba group members recently received a grant from the Babson Foundation to record and perform their music using traditional instruments. [Click on the icon below to see a documentary of their project below.]
Adath Jeshurun Cantor David Lipp performs with the Rebaba musicians. James Malou is in the foreground.
Rebaba Musicians Michael Pak and David Bior use traditional Dinka instruments made from goatskin.
Lual Aker Deng, foreground below, performs with the Rebaba Musicians at Adath Jeshurun.
Akech "Gabriel" Kwai addressed the Adath Jeshuran congregation and shared his history and accomplishments. Kwai, a 2007 graduate of Murray State University, is the founder and director of the Women's Education and Empowerment Project (W.E.E.P.) for Southern Sudan and a board member of the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund. Members and guests of Adath Jeshurun donated about $2,500 to the two organizations.
Lino L. Nakwa, center, a 2009 graduate of Transylvania University, talks to Dare to Care Director Brian Riendeau and Jefferson District Court Judge Angela McCormick Bisig, chairman of the Dare to Care board. Nakwa was the keynote speaker at the Feeding America Regional Conference held on Sept. 21 in Louisville. Food bank directors and representatives from 20 states attended the conference at the Seelbach Hilton.
On Sept. 24, Gabriel Kwai was the keynote speaker at Rebublic Bank's monthly luncheon for Louisville area business leaders. Kwai is an online banking representative for Republic. Also in attendance were Gabriel Chol, a 2007 graduate of Berea College, Lino Nakwa, a 2009 graduate of Transylvania University, and Solomon John, a student at Spencerian College. All four are current or former recipients of the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund scholarships.
Gheens Foundation Renews Commitment to Scholars
The Gheens Foundation, one of Kentucky's largest private philanthropic organizations, has awarded a renewal grant of $10,000 to the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund to encourage at least a dozen students who are within a year of graduating to complete their bachelor's degrees.
"We are proud to be an investor in your organization and in these students," said Carl Thomas, executive director of the Gheens Foundation.
The latest grant from the Gheens Foundation brings to $40,000 the total awards received since 2006 and. The foundation has been the single largest benefactor to the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund.
The Gheens Foundation was established in 1957 through the generosity of C. Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens to further their interest in education, economic development, and social services. The Sudanese Refugee Education Fund is extremely grateful for the organization's continued support.
Prospect-Goshen Rotary Makes it a 3-Peat
Members of the Prospect-Goshen Rotary in Kentucky have donated $1,000 to the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund, the organization's third grant in as many years. Prospect-Goshen Rotary, the Louisville area's second largest service association of business and professional leaders, has provided support to a wide range of education and humanitarian groups since 1995.
The Rotarians meet on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at Hunting Creek Country Club.
Malden Catholic Students Ad-Dress Academic Success
For the second year in a row, students at Malden Catholic High School in Malden, Massachusetts have contributed to the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund, using proceeds from a "Dress Down Day"
to provide support to immigrant college students. Under the direction of Interim Headmaster and Principal Brother Tom Puccio, the all-boys' school earmarked $800 collected by students who paid $2 each for the privilege of not wearing their
uniforms for a day.
"May God shower you all with his benedictions for your services and love for others," Kennedy Nakwa, a student at Xavier University in Cincinnati, wrote in a letter of thanks to the Malden Catholic community.
Malden Catholic is run by the Xaverian Brothers, a Catholic order started 170 years ago for the primary purpose of educating youth.
David Aciek, a student at Jefferson Community & Technical College who has received several scholarships from the Sudanese Refugee Education Fund, shared his experiences and accomplishments at Cultural Showcase Sudan on Saturday February 20. The event, sponsored by the Iroquois branch of the Louisville Free Public Library through the efforts of Community Outreach Coordinator Sophie Maier, featured speakers and films about Sudan. 
Rebaba Musicians Michael Pak and David Bior use traditional Dinka instruments made from goatskin. 
Lino L. Nakwa, center, a 2009 graduate of Transylvania University, talks to Dare to Care Director Brian Riendeau and Jefferson District Court Judge Angela McCormick Bisig, chairman of the Dare to Care board. Nakwa was the keynote speaker at the Feeding America Regional Conference held on Sept. 21 in Louisville. Food bank directors and representatives from 20 states attended the conference at the Seelbach Hilton.
For the second year in a row, students at