514 Scholarships Valued 2.5 Million NIS Were Distributed By the Jewish Agency to Students at the ORT Braude Academic College of Engineering in Karmiel

Some 514 freshmen students at the ORT Braude Academic College of Engineering in Karmiel received this past Sunday January 21, 2007 scholarships valued at 2.5 million NIS ($592,460). The funds were contributed by the United Jewish Communities of North America to the Jewish Agency Fund for Strengthening Colleges in the North.

Of the recipient students, 35 of them were new immigrants who were granted a full one-year tuition scholarship. The scholarships were offered to the entire ORT Braude student body with the sole condition being that they be engaged in some type of community activity. The scholarships were also being offered in order to encourage student registration to the college in spite of the Second War in Lebanon and the damage caused to the school and the region.

ORT Braude College recorded a 100% increase in student registration this academic year. Dr. Shamariyhu Rozner, the college's president noted that the high registration was achieved in large part due to the scholarship funding that was provided.

The scholarships were granted during a festive ceremony attended by the Treasurer of the Jewish Agency, Mr. Chagai Merom, Dr. Rozner, Rina Greenburg, Deputy Mayor of Karmiel, Ached Dabach, Mayor of Alshgur and Yael Raich, Director of the Karmiel-Misgav- Pittsburgh Partnership of Partnership 2000.