Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation
 | This is missing information about foundation activities since 2013. (January 2023) |
The Jérôme R. Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation was launched in November 2005, in memory of Jérôme R. Lohez, a Frenchman who was lost in the North Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks on New York City.[1] The foundation is, according to its mission statement, "the only charitable organization established after the 9/11 tragedy that is dedicated specifically to promoting educational and cultural exchange among the U.S., France and China."
Scholarship foundation
[edit]The founder of the organization is Jérôme Lohez's widow, Dening Wu Lohez. Ms. Lohez first established a memorial scholarship fund in her husband's memory in 2002[2] at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. Ms. Lohez and her husband had met as graduate students at the Institute during the mid-1990s.[3] The scholarship foundation was a later outgrowth of this early effort.
Lohez sought and received assistance from French diplomatic representatives in establishing the foundation.[4] In 2008, President Nicolas Sarkozy wrote a letter of commendation in recognition of the foundation's achievements.[5]
To date, the Jérôme R. Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation and the Stevens Jérôme R. Lohez '95 Memorial Fund have provided scholarship monies to more than 30 French, American and Chinese graduate exchange students, working through Stevens in the U.S. and EPITA in France, as well as in partnership with the Columbia University Alliance Program in New York City.
In 2012, the foundation initiated the Jacques Barzun Award for Distinguished Contributions to Trans-Cultural Scholarly Exchange.[6] According to the foundation, the award is "to be conferred once a year upon two institutions of higher learning, one French and one American, in recognition of their shared international dual-degree programs (master’s and doctoral levels), and/or for their joint research efforts." The foundation also initiated a new set of partnerships with Fudan University in Shanghai, China. The first agreement was concluded with Fudan University's School of Journalism to provide scholarship awards to French and Chinese students from the Fudan-Sciences Po dual master's degree program on Media and Communications.[7]
In 2013, the foundation established a second agreement, with Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Administration, to provide scholarship awards to French and Chinese students from the Fudan-Sciences Po dual master's degree program on Asia and European Global Affairs. Two successive Scholarship Award ceremonies were held at the French Consul's residence in Shanghai.[8][9]
On May 1, 2013, one of France's highest civilian service awards, the Insignia of Knight, Chevalier of the National Order of Merit, was bestowed upon Ms. Lohez, for her "tireless support of international education and French-American relations", during a ceremony held at the French Consulate in New York City. French Consul General Bertrand Lortholary presided at the ceremony.[10][11][12]
Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Jacinto, Leela (10 September 2011). "Ten years after 9/11, a transatlantic legacy of love". France24 International News. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ Bruton-Ward, Cass (3 February 2012). "Debut of original documentary offers remembrance and renewal through the images and words flooding public spaces after 9/11". Press Releases. Stevens News Service. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ Raines, Howell (December 2, 2001). "Jérôme R. Lohez: Vive l'Amérique!". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
- ^ West, Melanie Grayce (13 May 2011). "Building Bridge Between U.S., France: Widow Honors Her Husband's Memory With Scholarships to Graduate Students". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Foundation, Lohez. "Letters of Support: Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic" (PDF). Foundation Website. Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Foundation, Jérôme Lohez. "The Jacques Barzun Award". Foundation Website. Jérôme Lohez 9/11 Scholarship Foundation. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Double Degree Master Programs". Journalism School. Fudan University. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ "Jerome Lohez Scholarship Award Event". SIRPA. Fudan University.
- ^ "Cérémonie de remise des bourses de la fondation Jérôme Lohez". La France en Chine. French Consulate, Shanghai. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ Bubeck, Laura (2 May 2013). "Stevens Alumna Dening Lohez Decorated as Knight in the French National Order of Merit". Stevens Institute of Technology. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ Ribois-Verlinde, Astrid (May 2, 2013). "Dening Lohez, militante du dialogue des cultures, distinguée au Consulat". French Morning New York. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ^ Fassin, Mathilde (May 2, 2013). "Dening Wu Lohez décorée pour sa promotion des échanges franco-américains". France-Amérique. Retrieved 19 August 2014.