JERUSALEM, December 9, 2009 (WAFA)- Al Quds University Vice President Hasan Dweik and U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Frank Finver participated in an official ceremony at Al Quds University on Wednesday, honoring 14 recipients of the U.S. Government-supported “New Beginning” scholarships.

 These scholarships are part of the new outreach strategy to the Muslim and Arab worlds launched by U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  Ten of the students study at the Al Quds/Bard Honors College, a unique partnership which allows students to earn Palestinian and U.S. college degrees simultaneously, and four are from the Al Quds Masters in American Studies Program, which was established in 2003 with the support of the Consulate.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Finver said, “President Obama and Secretary Clinton are keen to support ties between Palestinian and U.S. educational and cultural institutions such as that developed between Al Quds and Bard College.  In addition, we are very supportive of Al Quds and several other Palestinian universities seeking to develop American Studies faculties.”

The U.S. Government has inaugurated several new initiatives this year to support Palestinian students.  Among these are the Abraham Lincoln Grants, which provide financial support to Palestinians seeking to apply to U.S. universities, as well as the American-Palestinian Local University Scholarships (A-PLUS), which fund tuition for Palestinians to attend local universities in the West Bank and Gaza.  Over the years, thousands of Palestinians have received U.S. Government-funded scholarships to study locally and in the United States.