Scholarships for peace

The English Language Institute is continuing its drive to increase scholarships for students at the Institute. A scholarship fund named "A Thousand Voices for Peace" was launched one year ago in response to the events of September 11.

"Those tragic events," said Director Scott Stevens in a letter to alumni and friends of ELI, "underscored the need for increased educational and cultural exchange as a vital means of fostering peace and creating economic opportunities for the world's disadvantaged citizens."

The goal of the scholarship fund is to provide tuition scholarships for hundreds of international students to study English. The Institute receives no financial support from the State of Delaware, and in the past it has relied on contributions from friends in the Newark community to provide a few scholarships for needy students.

"Our vision is to greatly expand the number of scholarships," said Stevens.

The appeal to former students -a long-standing tradition at American universities who rely heavily on alumni for financial support -marks the first time the Institute has asked graduates for donations.

"Most ELI students find their experience here -in addition to improving their English and enhancing their educational and professional opportunities -increased their understanding of other cultures and their tolerance for those with different political, religious or philosophical views.

"For many, it is a life-changing experience. We hope they will help extend that experience to others."

The Institute would like to thank community supporters Thomas A. Casadevall and Bess McAneny and the following alumni and host families for their recent donations to this scholarship fund: Digna E. de Paz, Jaime R. Hafner, Simone Hansen, Dr. Gloria P. James, Walter L. Kabis, Sr., Ken Mitsuboshi, Angela Ricciardiello, Yhanet J. Sierra Caicedo, Carlos Sanchez, Grace Wolfe and Mikinobu Yasamatsu.

For those who wish to contribute
to the ELI Scholarship Fund

There are two easy ways to make a donation:

• Send a check in $US payable to "University of Delaware" to Office of Annual Giving, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716. Write "ELI" on the memo line.
• Go to the University of Delaware's website (www.udel.edu/makeagift), click on the "By Credit Card" box, and complete the gift information form. Be sure to check "other" and type in "ELI" on the lower part of the form.