22 students of the Kenya Scholar Access Program (KenSAP) have been offered American university scholarships worth USD 7.5 Million (KES 980 Million) for 2024 entrance to top Ivy league universities and colleges.
The 22 scholars present at the 5th KenSAP Annual Charity Dinner Gala held in Nairobi have been admitted to prestigious global universities and colleges, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Amherst, Brown, Claremont McKenna, Colgate, Dartmouth, Davidson, Hamilton, Middlebury, Northwestern, Smith, Tufts, University of Pennsylvania, University of Toronto, Wellesley, and Williams.
The scholars comprise the top performers from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Class of 2023, selected from all 47 counties in Kenya, and come from underprivileged backgrounds. KenSAP pays for students to participate in its free residential university access program for nearly six months, guiding them about the American university application process and teaching them the skills they will need to excel in American universities.
The universities provide scholarship packages that cover a comprehensive range of expenses, including tuition fees, accommodations, meals, travel costs, and other costs of attendance. KenSAP continues to provide students with guidance, mentorship, and support while they’re studying in university. This financial assistance ensures that the scholars can focus on their academic pursuits without the burden of financial constraints, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in their new educational environments.
Speaking during the dinner gala to celebrate the scholars, the Principal Benefactor and Chairman of KenSAP’s Board of Directors, Charles Field-Marsham said “KenSAP is a testament to our commitment to nurture the brightest minds in Kenya from disadvantaged backgrounds. By providing these exceptional students with the resources they need, we are not only investing in their futures but also in the future of the country and bringing bright Kenyan minds to places all across the world.
“To the scholars, Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off – you have secured your spot at a top university, standing out from the hundreds of thousands of international applicants applying to the same schools from around the world. This achievement shows the potential of a true global citizen within you but there is still much hard work ahead of you to achieve your potential. Always remember that your success carries the hopes of your families, communities, and Kenya as whole,” added Mr. Alan Davidson
KenSAP provides access to world-class higher education for high-achieving Kenyan high school graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds who would otherwise have no chance to pursue such opportunities in global institutions across the world.
Each year, KenSAP selects 20 students from more than 1,000 highly qualified applicants. Just to apply, candidates must rank among the top 1⁄10 of 1% of all test takers on the KCSE. But KenSAP’s selection process, like that of the universities to which its students apply, is holistic, taking into consideration a range of criteria beyond the purely academic, such as family background, extracurricular accomplishments, commitment to community development, and leadership potential.
The selected students spend 20 weeks in residential training free of charge, with KenSAP covering all of their costs of attendance. In this training program, they prepare for university entrance.
