Orangutan Caring Scholarships Presented in Medan, Sumatra
16 March 2012, Medan, Sumatra. In a well attended ceremony at the Jangga House in Medan, Sumatra on March 16th, twelve scholarships were presented to students from North Sumatra and Aceh, Sumatra. The Orangutan Caring Scholarships (OCS) have been expanding in number and location over the past several years. All scholarships are competitive and provide for tuition for 4 years and research funds to complete the degree in Biology and Forestry. Additionally, veterinarian students from Syiah Kuala University in Aceh now have funding for a 5th year for an internship enabling them to become practicing veterinarians. This is because of the generous contributions from the Animal Health Foundation (AHF).
Students receiving the scholarship from North Sumatra included: AULIA FAJRIA, a biology student from University of North Sumatra (USU), ESTY NIDIANTY, ONI SRI RAHAYU SITORUS and FERRY AULIA HAWARI, forestry students from USU, and HERNA FEBRIANTY SIANIPAR and INDAH WIDIANI, both biology students from University of Medan (Unimed). Students from Aceh receiving the scholarships included: CUT SHAVRINA DEVINTA FAUZI, ORYONA ROMADHON, VICKY DIAWAN H, and YANDI SYAH PUTRA, all veterinary students from University of Syiah Kuala (Unsyiah) receiving a four-year scholarship and a fifth year of intership support to become practicing veterinarians. Also receiving a 4-year scholarship was ILHAM FONNA and IRMA YANTI, both biology students from Unsyiah. Interestingly, eight of the twelve scholarship winners were women, illustrating increased competitiveness by women seeking placement in higher education.
OURF is grateful to the Panut Hadisiswoyo of the Orangutan Information Center for administering the program, completing the selection process for the Aceh students, and arranging for them to attend the ceremony in Medan within a 3 day time period. Putting the selection on a fast-track helped prevent a delay in completing the process due to the upcoming elections in Aceh.
OURF is also excited to see how the new Borneo Orangutan Caring Scholarship proceeds in the coming months. That program is being administered by Yayasan Palung in West Kalimantan and will begin with two scholarships. Funds for both Sumatra and Borneo scholarship programs have been provided by AHF, the Australian Orangutan Project, the Andrew Sabin Family Foundation, Orangutan Outreach, and OURF.
