The University of Evansville Welcomes News Students
Updated: September 15, 2011
The University of Evansville is hosting a program that helps young Iraqi students to get an education.
The Higher Committee of Education Development in Iraq started the initiative three years ago, and now, the program is entering Evansville for the very first time.
Jawad Aidhalemi may look like an average student playing with a rubik's cube...but he is anything but that.
Aidhalemi is one of only 22 Iraqi students chosen to attend undergraduate programs.
Three of the 22 students are studying at the University of Evansville.
Students chosen for the program are sent to approved universities in the United States, U-K, or Australia.
The Iraqi government pays for their education, but they must return to their home country to work.
The goal of the program is to improve Iraqi education and stabilize it's economy that's been wounded by years of war.
The program started three years ago, but it took the University of Evansville three years to bring it on campus.
The students are assigned to a university based on the major they choose.
Aidhalemi and his roommate Narsay Martanee were sent to the university for computer engineering.
This is Aidhalemi's first time in the U.S.
But Martanee chose to come to America for high school.
He says he was happy to return to America for college.
He and Aidhalemi are confident they can make an impact in Iraq.
If his engineering know-how is anything like his rubik's cube skills, Aidhalemi will likely make an impact.
The University of Evansville had to apply to take part in the program.
The intensive application process included an on-campus visit from program representatives.
It took around three years for the university to be approved by the Iraqi government.
