After six weeks on campus, the Mandela Fellows have moved on to the next phase of their journey – Washington, D.C., and a meeting with President Obama.
Before leaving, the 25 African visitors were feted at a farewell dinner, hosted by President Frederick W. Clark Jr. and other administrators involved with the program.
“I hope that you saw that we tried to give you the very best of programs,” the president said, as he welcomed attendees to the farewell dinner held in the RCC ballroom. “You are a reflection of your countries, and the future couldn’t be brighter.”
Over the course of six weeks, the fellows spent hours in the classroom studying a wide-range of topics, listening to speakers addressing issues related to government, education, the law, economics, the environment and more. The fellows also traveled to destinations throughout the region, including the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Massachusetts Statehouse, a Fourth of July parade, homeless shelters, food banks and other places related to the program’s curriculum.
“This is really a celebration of the fellows and their accomplishment,” said Dr. Karim Ismaili, who served as the project director for BSU’s Mandela program. He added that the departure of the fellows was a “bittersweet moment for all of us.
“It’s been a real honor to have you on campus,” Dr. Ismaili said.
Dr. Michael Kryzanek, academic director of the program, cited all the contributions the fellows and their presence on campus have made to the BSU community, concluding that “Thank you is not enough.”
Certificates were presented to the fellows by President Clark and Harold Tavares, administrative coordinator for the program.
Several of the fellows performed musical pieces or spoke about their time at BSU. There was also a fun photo booth, allowing attendees to dress up for some memorable snapshots.
President Clark paraphrased a quote from President John F. Kennedy as part of his address to the fellows. It summed up what he saw as the goals of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program. “Our role is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle,” he said. (Story by Eva T. Gaffney, G ’01, and John Winters, G ’11, Marketing and Communications)
