Dr. Mehrete Girmay and Mr. Pawlos Girmay

In honor of their father, Mr. Girmay Tesfay, Mr. Pawlos Girmay and SIU Carbondale alum, Dr. Mehrete Girmay, have created a scholarship to provide yearly aid for one graduate student in the Public Health program at SIU Carbondale.

Mr. Girmay Tesfay was a scholar who believed in and promoted the value of education. In his role as instructor, he was able to positively affect the lives of many of his students. Furthermore, Mr. Girmay Tesfay believed in philanthropy and served in various capacities to give back to both domestic and international populations. Mr. Girmay Tesfay understood that for some students, the lack of funds for books and other academic related supplies, served as a barrier in their goal of pursuing high education studies.

Mr. Girmay Tesfay’s daughter, Dr. Mehrete Girmay, received both her Master’s and Ph.D. in the Public Health program at SIU Carbondale. Her dissertation, titled “Understanding the Adjustment Needs of International Graduate Students at Southern Illinois University Carbondale” opened her eyes to not only the specific needs of international graduate students, but also the ways in which she could take the ideals instilled in her by her father and be a blessing to another.

Pawlos and Mehrete were raised with the mindset that education is the key to success and they continue to live by their father’s motto, “In order to get ahead, you must always look back and help those in need!”