TAU Graduate Named Finalist for McGill University Scholarship

Zenab is a finalist for the fully funded McCall MacBain Scholarship.

21 February 2023
Zenab Abu Kishek volunteering on the TAU campus

A Natural Leader

Tel Aviv University graduate Zenab Abu Kishek, a social work graduate of the university, has been named a finalist for the first global cohort of McCall MacBain Scholars at McGill University in Canada. This prestigious scholarship program is the result of a C$200 million donation by John and Marcy McCall MacBain, and it is designed to cultivate purposeful leadership by providing fully funded masters or professional degree programs to selected students from around the world.

 

At Tel Aviv University, Zenab co-founded an activist group aimed at making the city safer. She also volunteered at a women’s rights center and helped Arabic-speaking students on campus. Zenab applied for a master’s degree in social work, aspiring to be a researcher and to support Palestinian refugees.

 

“It feels so surreal, I would never have thought in million years I’d come across such an opportunity,” said Zenab. “I chose to volunteer in the community because I believe people have responsibility for the place they live in. My community’s reality of living doesn’t align with what my community deserves - that’s why I started to volunteer, to take some of the responsibility into my hands as a community member to change the reality for the better.”

 

Zenab Abu Kishek, TAU's finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship
Zenab Abu Kishek, TAU's finalist for the McCall MacBain Scholarship.

 

An Invitation to Apply

Out of over 1,200 institutions that expressed interest in the program, Tel Aviv University was one of 65 universities invited to participate in the global call for candidates. Zenab is the only Israeli student among 35 international finalists from 31 universities around the world. After a first round of online regional interviews, the finalists were chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity.

 

Zenab will attend the final round of interviews in Montréal, Canada, where she will meet with leaders from academia, business, government, and the social sector. Up to 10 international McCall MacBain Scholars will be selected after final interviews. Those who are not selected as scholars are still eligible to receive a $20,000 Finalist Award to be used toward studies at McGill University.

 

Applications for next year’s cohort open in June 2023 for September 2024 admission. Tel Aviv University encourages its students and graduates to consider applying for this life-changing opportunity.

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