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Gbarnga, Bong County — The Friends of Sulunteh (FOS) has honored and appreciated Dr. Donzell Lee, President of Tougaloo College in the United States of America, for his immense contributions towards the provision of international educational opportunities for Liberian students.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The Friends of Sulunteh (FOS) is a friendship group owned and controlled by Amb. Jeremiah C. Sulunteh, former Vice Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC) and former Ambassador of Liberia to the United States of America.
Briefing the audience on the historicity of the international scholarship program, Ambassador Jeremiah Sulunteh said the gesture came to light in 2012 when he had gone to proxy for former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf at Alcorn State University ‘‘Founder’s Day’’ program in the United States of America.
He said authorities of the University, inspired by his speech delivered on the linkage between the USA and Liberia, bestowed on him a honorarium degree value at eleven thousand united states dollars ($11,000.00).
Meanwhile, the Former USA-Canada Ambassador revealed that he rejected the prestigious honored and requested for scholarship slots with Dr. Victor Flomo and Malah Dahn, B.SC being the first recipients of the first two scholarship slots in 2012; with Dr. Jeremiah Nuatomue and Nyanpee Gornorpewu, MBA – benefiting from the second batch of the scholarship slots in 2015.
He added that in order to beefed-up the scholarship program he also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alcorn State University when Dr. Donzell Lee assumed the university’s presidential post for additional slots in 2019; noting that plans are underway for another batch of two (2) Liberians students to benefit from the slots in the USA September of this year.
‘’I was adamant in obtaining these educational slots and Dr. Donzell Lee has played a pivotal role in its actualization; our friendship has been a blessing over the years and I am grateful to him for this,’’ Amb. Sulunteh asserted.
Amb. Sulunteh rallied the students in attendance to view the lifestyle of Dr. Victor Flomo and others as a mirror if they are to triumph in their separate educational sojourn.
At the occasion, Dr. Lee was gowned and honored for the scholarships provisions, while, Dr. Flomo was honored for his high academic achievement in the USA.
According to Amb Jeremiah Suluteh, the international study opportunity was rewarded to Dr. Victor Flomo for standing firm with him during his (Sulunteh) political struggle days.
Dr. Flomo expressed delight over his safe return home after many years of hard work and studies abroad.
He based his happiness on the fact that he was returning with a doctorate degree, an accomplishment he had always dreamed of while coming up as a young man. Dr. Flomo went on to reign praises on Ambassador Sulunteh and his family for making him achieve something that was almost impossible considering his weak financial background.
He told the audience that it was the former Liberian diplomat who fetched the scholarship opportunity and ensured that he, Victor Flomo, benefited.
Speaking also, Dr. Flomo said he owes the degree and all of the accrued benefits to Amb. Sulunteh, who unearthed the potential in him (Victor Flomo). As a former student leader of the Bong County Student Union (BONSU). He pledged his commitment to supporting the activities and programs of the student union in which he once served as leader.
He also promised to use the degree obtained to exploit society and serve as a conduit to the many hungry aspirants of such an achievement.
Also speaking at the occasion, Bong County Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris extended commendations to Dr. Donzell Lee for contributing to the educational needs of Liberians.
She further launched and appeal to Dr. Lee to extend his scholarship gestures to Bong County students.
Being moved by his educational gesticulations, the Bong County Superintendent in consultations with some heads of the county’s traditional council bestowed a Chieftaincy honor on Dr. Donzell Lee and named him after ‘’Chief Dolokelen Gboveh’’ of the Jorquelleh Chiefdom.
Chief Dolokelen Gboveh is recorded in Bong County’s history as a powerful warrior and Chief who played vital role in all spheres of the County during stayed on Earth. He (Chief Dolokelen Gboveh) was also named after the County’s oldest government-run Dolokelen Gboveh High School.
Remarking at the event, Dr. Donzell Lee expressed excitement for the honor bestowed on him and recounted his commitment to working with Amb. Sulunteh to provide more educational opportunities for Liberians, especially Bong County natives.
Held Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Gbarnga City administration building, the event was attended by several personalities from all levels of county including Superintendent Loleyah Hawa Norris, Chiefs, Elders, students and other educational stakeholders of the County.