U.S. Consul General Announces First Winners of Abraham Lincoln Grants

November 10, 2009

Jerusalem: U.S. Consul General Daniel Rubinstein formally announced the 21 Palestinian high school student recipients of the "Abraham Lincoln Incentive Grants" on November 10 during a visit to the Amideast office in Ramallah. The new grants, which will assist Palestinians in applying for admission to American colleges and universities, are part of the special funding to support Palestinian students announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her March visit to Ramallah. The U.S. Government plans to award over 100 such grants during the next five years.

While at Amideast, the Consul General addressed the students, including nine recipients from Gaza who were able to attend the ceremony in person. The students' parents were also in attendance or joined by digital videoconference from Gaza. Referring to President Obama's and Secretary Clinton's pledge to expand educational opportunities for youth in the Middle East, the Consul General noted that "the goal of these grants is to enable a larger pool of capable young Palestinian men and women from the West Bank and Gaza to compete along with students in other countries for the opportunity to further their academic training in America."

Consul General Rubinstein also spoke about the historic role that Abraham Lincoln played in the United States, noting that Lincoln came from humble roots yet rose to become one of the greatest U.S. presidents. Now, in 2009, the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem hopes that his spirit of hard work, self-reliance and hope will inspire these future Palestinian leaders.

For more information please contact the Consulate General Press Office at 02-622-6909 or Information Assistant Hassna Dajani at 054-662-0257.