Suzanne Gaber, a graduating senior at Mercer Island High School, has been awarded the 2012 Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship. The announcement was made at a reception at Aljoya on May 15.

The scholarship is in honor of 1960 MIHS grad Stanley Ann Dunham, mother of President Barack Obama, who went on to be an anthropologist. She believed in the empowerment of women through intercultural communication and understanding. The award is bestowed upon a graduating MIHS senior female, who is judged to best portray the values and goals of Stanley Ann Dunham.

Suzanne, the daughter of Hisham and Lobna Gaber, has been accepted to study at American University, in Washington, DC. She plans to major in Arabic/American studies.

In her personal commitment essay that was submitted with her application, Gaber stated, “It is my ultimate goal to work as a Middle East correspondent to ensure that the world does not forget the atrocities in human rights that have occurred around the globe.”

The other finalists were Eve Berrington, Laura Brindley, Haley Chinn, Jessica Fu, Alisa Jion Kim, Jessica Malcham, Sarah Marr and Yating Anna McKnight.

“All of the entrants were highly qualified,” said Dayna Cole, chairman of the board. “It was a very difficult decision.”

Mercer Island alumnus, 2003 graduate Jessica Lind-Diamond, spoke. She is now with Yes Magazine. Maya Soetoro-Ng, daughter of Stanley Ann Dunham, spoke to the group via Skype. She talked about her mother’s “connections” to people and her curiosity.