Bagul Mammedova, EducationUSA Opportunity Funds alumna from Turkmenistan is currently a freshman Honors student at Jamestown Community College (SUNY) majoring in Global Studies. Together with two other outstanding international students, Bagul assisted Political Science Professor Gregory Rabb, who was an awardee of Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellowships 2019-2020 by Rockefeller Institute of Government to research Fiscal Stress in Small Western New York cities. As the result, Jamestown Community College became the community college to be granted this fellowship in New York! The research examined ten small cities of the state and the conditions that led to fiscal stress in 2018. Bagul’s role was to attend interviews with city mayors and work on the city budgets.

EducationUSA Turkmenistan cohort alumna and Opportunity Funds recipient, Ayna Mammedova, is one of two inaugural recipients of the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship from Temple University. Ayna, who is a freshman majoring in a Biochemistry, always knew she wanted to study in the United States, however, lack of finances was her biggest obstacle. “Since high school, I dreamed about studying Biochemistry and conducting research with the guidance of highly professional faculty”, says Ayna. “My dream came true, and although in the beginning, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the abundance of research opportunities at Temple, now, I feel confident and excited about utilizing them and gaining practical experience.”

Ayna became an honorable member of the Temple Dean’s List twice. She currently serves as the Temple Unibody Student Ambassador and also holds a position with International Student Affairs (ISA) by assisting incoming international students. “I truly enjoy working with the Temple ISA in organizing events for international students. ISA feels like a family to me, and I feel very supported by ISA staff and other international students. I hope that with the help of ISA, I will be able to contribute to the Temple’s international community and make every international student feel welcomed at Temple too”.

Through EducationUSA Turkmenistan Cohort Advising program, Ayna was able to learn about ways to finance her studies at a U.S. institution, “I am very grateful to the EducationUSA Turkmenistan and my adviser for seeing the potential in me and supporting me during my path to my academic dreams”. Click the link https://www.inquirer.com/news/temple-international-students-trump-welcome-scholarship-20190827.html to learn more about Ayna and the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship @TempleUniversity.