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Scoring a Scholarship

Student's Interest in Soccer Nets Opportunities in Education City

Aayush Karki, a top student from Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, has soccer to thank for heading to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon Qatar, majoring in computer science and receiving a full, four-year H.E. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani Scholarship.

Ironically, it took sports to connect Karki with Education City. Even before Qatar Foundation's logo made it onto the shirts of FC Barcelona, Karki read a story online about a partnership between the foundation and the professional soccer club. From there, he discovered Education City, the six American universities that call it home, and, most excitingly, that ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon's world-renowned computer science degree was being offered in Qatar.

In addition to studying computer science at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, Karki, who recorded the highest English language score in Nepal at the very selective Budhanilkantha School, said he was drawn to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon Qatar by its small but diverse community and by being a part of Education City.

The scholarship will allow Karki to complete his undergraduate degree and attend graduate school.

"To be able to attend ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon was like a dream come true. And I owe this largely to the generosity and kind spirit of the family who made the scholarship available to me," Karki said. "The scholarship allows me to put my focus entirely on my studies and interests during and after my time at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon. I am very thankful for this opportunity."

Karki is the first person to receive the H.E. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani Scholarship, which was established in 2012 following a $1 million gift to the university from an anonymous donor. Three additional scholarships will be awarded.

The H.E. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani Scholarship can be offered to students who qualify for financial aid and apply to any of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon Qatar's five majors - biological sciences, business administration, computational biology, computer science and information systems.

"We are incredibly appreciative for this commitment to ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon, which helps to attract and support outstanding students who otherwise could not afford to study at a world-renowned institution like ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon," said Ilker Baybars, dean of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon Qatar.

"I hope this scholarship brings Aayush one step closer to fulfilling his goal of advancing the field of computer science and achieving his dream of bringing technology to underserved communities."

Aayush Karki is the first H.E. Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani Scholarship recipient at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Mellon Qatar.