USA University, College Representatives Visit ZimbabweHARARE — Admission officers from five American universities and colleges, which host a $500 million scholarship fund for economically disadvantaged but gifted students, are meeting students and teachers in a series of presentations in Harare, Rusape, Mutare and Chitungwiza to help intelligent pupils get into American universities. The officers on Wednesday interacted with students from various schools in Harare explaining issues related to studying in the USA as well as the various programmes that their institutions offer. Education-USA Country Coordinator at the US Embassy in Harare, Rebecca Ziegler-Mano, said the United States is doing a lot in assisting less privileged but gifted Zimbabwean students get higher education qualifications. Mano said the team will on Wednesday hold meetings with prospective students in Rusape, Macheke, Nyazura, Nyanga and surrounding Manicaland areas. Another team of admission officers is expected in the country next week to visit Bulawayo and the Midlands provinces. Mano said the number of Zimbabweans studying in America has increased. In August this year, 12 Zimbabwean students were awarded MasterCard Foundation Scholarships to pursue further studies in the United States. They are enrolled at Duke University, Michigan State University, the University of Arizona and the University of California at Berkeley. An additional six Zimbabweans received scholarships under this program during its inaugural year in 2012. The visiting admission officers will also make presentations at the American Corner in Mutare at the Turner Memorial Library on Thursday morning before proceeding to St. John’s College in Borrowdale in Harare the same afternoon. They conclude their visit at Nyatsime College in Chitungwiza on Friday morning. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, launched in September last year, is a 10-year global initiative to educate and develop next-generation leaders who the United States hopes will contribute to social and economic progress. The program enables young people from economically disadvantaged communities to complete quality university education, and make successful transitions to further education or to the workforce in their home countries. There are just over 1,200 Zimbabwean students enrolled at various American universities and colleges.