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Bucknell Establishes Scholarships for Burmese Students
LEWISBURG, Pa., Aug. 28 -- Bucknell's 142-year relationship with Burma continues with the endowment of two new scholarships for Burmese students with the help of more than 80 Burmese, including U Kyaw Win, international president of the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma.
The Shaw Loo Memorial Scholarship was established to commemorate the anniversary of the arrival from Burma of Bucknell’s first international student and has grown to more than $350,000.
Win first wrote to 250 Burmese friends world wide, urging them to contribute to the Shaw Loo scholarship. More than 80 Burmese, 50 of whom now live in the United States, pledged donations. Then, through the efforts of Win and his wife, Gandasari, an additional $209,000 was brought in to establish another scholarship for Burmese students.
"It is a remarkable achievement to reach this level of endowment for the Shaw Loo scholarship, and funds continue to come in," said Bennett R. Willeford, retired chemistry professor and head of the Shaw Loo fund-raising drive. "We are most appreciative of Professor Win for his own generosity and for using his extensive contacts to solicit donations to honor Shaw Loo and to help Burmese students receive a Bucknell education."
In addition to being the international president of the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Burma, Win was founding president of the Foundation for Democracy in Burma. He is an emeritus professor of counseling services at Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, Calif., and now lives in Boulder, Colo.
"Just the fact that one of my forebears trod the soil and walked Bucknell’s halls of learning to sharpen his intellect is good enough for me to honor his memory and to express gratitude to Bucknell," Win said. "Bucknell has a special place in my heart."
Win was prominent in Bucknell’s 1998 fall focus semester, "Burma-Bucknell: Historic Partnership, Contemporary Crisis," that marked the historic relationship between Bucknell and Burma. He was one of the semester’s main speakers and also helped arrange other contacts with Burmese expatriates who have fled the military dictatorship that runs the beleaguered country, now known as Myanmar.
Bucknell’s connection with Burma began in the 19th century. Eugenio Kincaid, one of Bucknell’s founders, was a Baptist missionary in Burma in 1830. Howard Malcom, the first Bucknell President, visited the Baptist missions there. Burma Weekends were held at Bucknell from 1948-1965 attracting Burmese students from throughout the United States, Burmese diplomats and U.S. government leaders.
Shaw Loo became acquainted with the Bucknell missionaries who encouraged him to come to the university in 1858. He graduated, eventually became a physician and returned to Burma to become one of the country’s leading citizens.
"To think the unimaginable that a young person journeyed so far away from his homeland, Burma, to far-off American before the advent of telephones, airplanes, electricity and then to live a long and fruitful life of inspiration is enough for me to be awed," Win said. "In our culture, we honor learning and highly respect those of high learning -- the more so when one has left the confines of his humble origin to acquire an education abroad."
Two Burmese students are currently enrolled at Bucknell; another plans to enroll this week. Citizens of Burma who have financial need will be given preference for both scholarships. The junta recently reopened Burma's colleges and universities after closing them for three years following student protests.
Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner for her fight for freedom and human rights in Burma, was Bucknell’s 1999 commencement speaker, which Win helped arrange. Her speech was delivered by Burton Levin, former U.S. ambassador to Burma, because of her fears that the junta would not allow her to return to her country. Win and leaders of the Burma government in exile attended the commencement.
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(Editor's Note: A photo of U Kyaw Win is available upon request: either by mail or e-mail attachement.)
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