Faridah is the Arabic word for unique and exceptional. Dr. Faridah Awang learned that early in life from her grandmother, who raised her, her older brother, and a cousin in a rural community on the southeastern tip of Malaysia. Living up to her name became a personal quest, and the key to achieving it was education.
Being unique doesn’t just happen, as far as Awang is concerned. “Success is not accidental, it’s a mindset,” she says. “Many times being comfortable can ruin you. What happened to me, I was tested by so many challenges. And it was a contributing factor for me to keep going. If I didn’t have all these challenges, I might be simple Faridah. The challenges are what gave me my uniqueness.”
Published in SIUC Alumni Magazine. “Simply Unique: Personal Challenges Build an Inspiring Identity for Alumna” by Caleb Hale, Editor
Establishment of the Faridah Awang Scholars Program, Inc. Timeline
August 2019
- 16 – Met our lawyer in Richmond, Kentucky, USA.
- 17 – Met one of our Board of Directors in West Chester, Ohio, USA.
- 31 – Met both Board of Directors in Carbondale, Illinois, USA.
September 2019
- 13 – The Faridah Awang Scholars Program, Inc. was formally established by the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
- Received tax-exempt organization 501 (c) (3) status.
February 2020
- 11 – The FAScholars Program, Inc. officially began accepted scholarships applications.
May 2020
- 1 – Scholarship applications were closed.
July 2020
- Scholarship finalists online interviews.
August 2020
- Scholarship award winners announced.
September 2020
- Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
October 2020
- The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2021 scholarship applications.
February 2021
- 1 – Scholarship applications were closed.
July 2021
- Scholarship finalists online interviews.
August 2021
- Scholarship award winners announced.
September 2021
- Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
February 2022
- The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2022 scholarship applications.
August 2022
- Scholarship finalists online interviews.
September 2022
- Scholarship award winners announced.
- Financial award money disbursed to scholars.