Two international students receive $300 scholarship for academic achievement, leadership abilities

By Grover Welch, Herald Staff

The Office of International Students honored the achievements of foreign students at Arkansas State University with the awarding of the Richmond-Haydar scholarship on Wednesday night.

The two recipients of the award were Anil Baral and Meiliati Bun.

Baral is a graduate student at ASU pursuing a doctorate in environmental science with a 4.0 grade point average.

Meiliati Bun is an under graduate in computer science with a 3.62 grade point average.

Both students have spent their entire education in the United States at Arkansas State University.

The scholarship is awarded in the name of Mossie Richmond and Afak Haydar, both alumni of Arkansas State University.

This years finalists included Anil Baral of Nepal, Mounir Ben-Fredj of Tunisia, Meiliati bun of Indonesia, Eunhee Cho of Korea, Baljit Rehal of India, and Kristine Worden of Canada.

All finalists had proven themselves in their individual academic fields as well as being involved with academic clubs and pursuing leadership roles on campus.

"It was a difficult decision to decide from so many excellent candidates, one which I took great pride in being part of," Dr. Herman Strickland, associate professor of elementary education, said.

He presented the awards to the recipients.

Both recipients will receive a $300 scholarship as well as have their names added to an honorary plaque which hangs in the International Student Center.

Richmond was a professor, administrator and assistant vice president of student affairs until his death in 1995.

Haydar was a professor of political science and associate dean of university college, until he retired in 1997 to pursue educational roles in Pakistan.

The Richmond Haydar scholarship is given through the charitable contribution of its donors. These include Mian Emer Mehmood, Velmar Richmond, Dr. and Mrs. Afak Haydar, Dr. and Mrs. Wilbert Gaines, Drs. J.W. and Jennifer Mason, Dr. and Mrs. Calvin Smith, and Dr. and Mrs. Herman Strickland.

Dr. Rick Stripling, interim vice president of student affairs, spoke at the dinner and reiterated the importance of international students at ASU.

"International students provide the cultural exchange that we, at ASU, value," he said.

Sighting Haydar's worldly connections he said, "There is value in the cultural diversity they (international students) bring to ASU because it broadens our outlook and helps create contacts the world over."

"Dr. Haydar believed education must be available to everyone, especially those who want it, but have limited access," Stripling said.