Issue link: http://ihouse.uberflip.com/i/1472931
6 International House Times W e are pleased to highlight some of our incredible current residents who are recipients of room and board scholarships made possible by the generosity of alumni and friends such as those highlighted in the Scholarship Spotlight. Aishwarya Acharya Resident Initiated Socially Responsible Scholarship Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Aishwarya completed her bachelor's in electronics and telecom- munications engineering in 2018. Fulfilling her dream of pursuing a master's degree in one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Aishwarya intends to work in FinTech and she hopes to give back to the Resident Initiated Socially Responsible Scholarship Endowment Fund in the near future. "My early embrace of various cultures reflects my background as a South Indian raised in Mumbai's diversity. My motivation for being at I-House is to connect and learn about diverse perspectives. I want to appreciate our differences while still recognizing our cross-cultural similarities." Maxime Defauw Tillson-Gedanken Scholarship Maxime, a 22-year-old Belgian, obtained his bachelor's degree in computer science as well as a master's degree in business management from the Catholic University of Leuven. He is currently pursuing a master's of engineering in computer science with a focus on robotics at UC Berkeley. "I-House immediately feels like a cozy home, which is very important when you live one year away from home. I want to leave I-House with a global network of friends, with improved leadership, social skills, and familiarity with diverse cultures." Tenzin Desel Simone Sciobereti Scholarship Tenzin was a Tibetan refugee, raised in India. Her academic passion emerges where psychology and neuroscience intersect, when systems of the brain and the unknown of the mind creates human experiences. She is a first year Ph.D. student in the psychology department and her research area involves studying the association between sleep and Alzheimer's disease. "Understanding cultural diversity does not come as a luxury but as a need for me to survive in this world. e opportunity to live at I-House is a continuation of my education, and I am eager to experience a burst of new ideas, relationships, and creativity." Above: Patricia Quaye and Barbara Mensah (Ghana) The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley I-House is delighted to continue our collaboration with the UC Berkeley Center for African Studies in partnership with e Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to help prepare the next generation of African leaders. e Scholars Program aims "to develop a cohort of ethical, entrepreneurial, and energetic young leaders who will drive and lead socioeconomic transformation in Africa." At UC Berkeley, the Program has provided support to over 120 undergraduate and master's degree students from 2012 to 2020. is year, we are pleased to have sixteen Mastercard Foundation Scholars living and learning at I-House. Please visit mcfscholarsprogram.berkeley.edu for more information on the program. I-House has added value to the experiences and opportunities that MasterCard Foundation Scholars enjoy at UC Berkeley. For example, while I-House's services center on the provision of residential rooms, meals, and educational experiences for students and scholars, intercultural programs are provided annually for residents at discounted rates and fees, partially funded by philanthropic support. In non-pandemic times, these include ethnic celebrations and festivals, culturally themed coffee hours, field trips, home stays, lecture and film series, social dances, and debates, in addition to traditional "Sunday Suppers" featuring resident performances. Staff members organize social gatherings to integrate the Scholars into campus life. I-House services for residents also include access to partially sponsored workshops and training on negotiating conflicts, designed to orient participants to the challenges and joys of intercultural exchange. Resident Statistics Fall 2021 n 39% Graduate Students n 58% Undergraduate Students n 2% Visiting Scholar/Post Doc n Average Age is 20 (range 18-52) Top Five Areas of Study Economics 44 Electrical Engineering & Computer Science 39 Business Administration 35 Mechanical Engineering 34 Law 29 Top Five Countries United States 160 China 42 India 41 France 37 Japan 33 n 587 Residents represent 64 Countries n 273 Female, 305 Male n 73% International, 27% U.S.