scholar with a
scholar with a ‘fulbright’ future Chaldean is headed to Malta in prestigious program BY VANESSA DENHA GARMO She is believed to be the first Chaldean to be awarded a scholarship to the Fulbright Program. Monique R. Mansour of California has a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles and master of fine arts in creative writing as well as writing for the performing arts from the University of California Riverside. “I am not certain but I don’t know of any other Chaldean Fulbright Scholar,” said Mansour, who recently visited Michigan and attended the Chaldean News Newsmaker of the Year Event honoring Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. “It is very exciting; I’m incredibly honored.” Mansour was among six students from LMU to be awarded the scholarship. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the nation’s largest student exchange program offering students and young professionals an opportunity to study for graduate degrees, conduct advanced research or teach in 140 countries. The program was established in 1946 and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It operates in more than 150 countries. Applying for a Fulbright is a rigorous, time-consuming process. The application is due a full year before the program even begins, and the application itself takes months to complete. Mansour applied for an ETA grant, which stands for “English Teaching Assistant.” “The institution you apply through — in my case, LMU — is heavily involved in the process,” said Mansour. “I had to go through interviews and several meetings with faculty and staff from the university. A Fulbright is not only an award for the individual applicant, it is also an award for the university, and so they take their applicants very seriously. Though it was a daunting process, it taught me a lot about myself, about my goals and about my values. I’m incredibly thankful to all who cheered me on along the way — especially to my mother, Sheila Mansour, and to Monique Mansour asks a question at the Newsmaker of the Year event in June. PHOTO BY DAVID REED Dr. Stella Setka at LMU — both read countless drafts of my essays throughout the process.” Mansour plans to forge a career as a screenwriter in Hollywood, telling stories that are largely unknown, unheard of or both. “I write stories that are reflective of the society we live in — something that is desperately needed in our entertainment industry today,” she said. “If it’s meant to be and if time allows, I’d also love to teach writing classes at the collegiate level. In many ways, teaching and writing are seamlessly linked. A story, at its core, is a lesson. I honestly can’t see myself doing anything else, and though I know the journey won’t always be easy, I know it will be worthwhile. I’m ready for the challenge.” For a full academic year, she will be working with Maltese youth and teaching English and creative writing classes to middle school students and to college students at the University of Malta. “I first visited Malta in 2006 while on a Mediterranean vacation with my family,” she said. “It didn’t take much more than my first step on the island to fall instantly in love. Breathtakingly beautiful, Malta is located below Sicily and above North Africa. It was once a British colony. It has been influenced by many cultures and has, in turn, influenced many cultures itself. As a Chaldean American, the country of Malta resonated with me in a lot of ways. I feel like Malta is a personification of myself and of my unique American experience. Growing up, I was influenced by Chaldean ideals, American ideals and Californian ideals.” Malta embraces and celebrates its varied influences wholeheartedly. It is apparent in their Maltese language — largely a mixture of Arabic and Italian — their food, their artwork and more. “I always knew I’d make my way back to Malta somehow — and it looks like that time has finally come,” Mansour said. Mansour was born and raised in San Diego, and her family later moved to Orange County. “I don’t think anyone can be a successful, memorable or a long-lasting writer without engaging with our world and with our larger global community,” she noted. “Not only do I think a Fulbright scholarship will assist me with a newfound knowledgebase that will be useful to my writing career, but I also think it will allow me to grow into a better human being, more into a woman for and with others. As Americans, I think we can get ‘tunnel vision’ — sometimes thinking that our policies and our viewpoints are contained within our own 50 states — but this is clearly not the case. Our Chaldean community from Iraq knows this perhaps more than anyone else in our modern era. I want to do my part to learn all that I can about the world so that I may serve as a Cultural Ambassador (the title bestowed to Fulbright Scholars) to the very best of my ability. I hope this experience will allow me to infuse my stories with new insights, so that they may be as universal in nature as possible.” Mansour has been given a two-part assignment. She will teach English to middle school and college students, and will also work with refugees by helping them learn English and other skills to prepare them for a life in Europe. “I’m a first-generation American on my father’s side, and second on my mother’s, so winning this award is not only an award for me — it is also an award for my entire family, for our close-knit Chaldean community, and for the universities which shaped me into the woman I am today,” she said. “My parents always stressed to me and to my siblings the importance of education. They always believed education to be the ticket to a purposefilled life — winning this prestigious award proves that to be true. I’m incredibly thankful, humbled, honored and blessed. I am truly a product of all who love and nurture me — I wouldn’t have received this award without them.” Calling college the best four years of her life, Mansour has advice for other students. “Don’t stress about finishing at a certain time. Get involved, take courses in everything that interests you, and major in what you love. Don’t settle for the ‘easy’ courses — take classes that challenge and inspire you. Seek mentorship from your professors and form relationships with them — this will serve you well. Don’t worry about studying what will get you the best job postgraduation — study what you’re passionate about. The purpose of education is to engage the mind, body and soul. You’ll soon learn that money is far from everything — so please, take my advice and major in what you’re good at, what you adore, and what you could realistically see yourself doing long-term. Everything else will fall into place — trust me on this one!” One important lesson for Mansour was quenching the thirst for learning. “I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met in the workplace, people who became so caught up in their jobs, in their lives and in their antiquated ways of looking at things that they forgot to broaden their horizons and learn from others along the way,” she said. “When this happens, progress comes to a halt. Don’t get caught in this trap! It will be hard, but you have to push through it — for your good and for the good of our society.” Senator J. William Fulbright, who founded the program, once said, “the Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.” “It is my plan to fulfill this mission that he laid out to the best of my ability, but I can’t do it without the support of my friends, family and my greater Chaldean community,” said Mansour. “Please keep me in your prayers!” 28 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2016
ANNUAL SCHOOL GUIDE fers preschool, half- and full-day kindergarten, and grades 1-8. The school has 33 classroom teachers, six classroom aides, school counselor, technology coordinator, media specialist, development room teacher, and shared-time teachers and a speech therapist from Farmington Public Schools. Our Lady of Victory Catholic School Elementary and Middle School 132 Orchard Drive Northville, MI 48167 (248) 349-3610 OLVNorthville.org/school This co-ed parish school has about 420 students with a maximum classroom size of 25. On test scores, students perform well above the national averages and above the average of other schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Students also participate in a special CARE project (Christ’s Arms Reaching Everyone) to benefit the community. Preschool and after-school faith programs are available. Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary and Middle School 32460 Pierce Road Beverly Hills, MI 48025 (248) 642-2616 OlqmCatholicSchool.org Accredited by the Michigan Non-Public Schools Accrediting Association, Our Lady has a college-prep curriculum from early childhood programs through grade eight. OLQM, which dates to 1954, provides after-school latchkey for working parents and a student/ teacher ratio of 22:1. Competitive and intramural sports teams are available, as are band, choir and scouting. Transportation is provided via Birmingham District buses. Regina All-Girls High School 13900 Masonic Boulevard Warren, MI 48088 (586) 585-0500 ReginaHS.com Open since 1956, Regina has a number of endearing traditions for its 463 young women. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and has 38 certified educators, 70 percent holding master degrees or beyond. Virtually all graduates go onto higher learning. Regina is classified as a Class A School and offers 23 Honors and nine Advanced Placement classes. Its brother school, De La Salle, unifies with Regina to create a well-balanced and positive environment. Shrine Elementary, Middle and High School 3500 W. 13 Mile Road Royal Oak, MI 48073 (248) 549-2925 ShrineSchools.com Shrine offers elementary, middle and high schools and is affiliated with the landmark Shrine of the Little Flower Church. The grade school is a Michigan Blue Ribbon School and has about 600 students. The attached middle school with about 175 students is known as the Academy. The co-ed high school has about 275 students, participates in the Michigan High School Athletic Association and is a member of the Catholic High School League. It is also home to a dynamic International student base with students from China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Guatemala. St. Anne Elementary and Middle School 5920 Arden Avenue Warren, MI 48092 (586) 264-2911 St-Anne.net Founded in 1949, St. Anne has some 600 students in pre-K through eighth grade. St. Anne ranks as one of the highest schools for test scores in the Archdiocese. In national IOWA testing, the school’s fifth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students scored in the top 10 percent, while the second-, third-, fourth- and sixth-graders were in the top 15 percent. Enrollment at St. Anne has increased in recent years. St. Catherine of Siena Academy All-Girls High School 28200 Napier Road Wixom, Michigan 48393 (248) 946-4848 SaintCatherineAcademy.org Just opened in 2011, St. Catherine of Siena Academy is the first all-girls Catholic high school to open in 50 years. The campus is a 137,000-square-foot facility constructed on a 33-acre parcel that includes 27 classrooms and a 400- seat chapel. St. Catherine’s mission is rooted in Pope John Paul II’s philosophy of the “Feminine Genius.” It’s accredited by the Michigan Non-Public School Accrediting Association. St. Clare of Montefalco Elementary and Middle School 16231 Charlevoix Street Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230 (313) 647-5100 StClareM.org This co-ed school is the only private school in Grosse Pointe Park. St. Clare of Montefalco is part of the National Catholic Educational Association. The school has a 15:1 student/teacher ratio in preschool through eighth grade. A large number of extracurricular activities and special programs are offered. St. Edith Catholic School Elementary and Middle School 15089 Newburgh Road Livonia, MI 48154 (734) 464-1250 StEdithSchool.com This co-ed school of about 178 students focuses on stressing responsibility and independence to prepare students for junior high and high school. Extracurricular activities include weekly music classes, choir and scouting. The school also participates in the Livonia Share Time Program where teachers specializing in certain subjects teach on site. St. Fabian Elementary and Middle School 32200 W. 12 Mile Road Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 553-4610 StFabianSchool.com St. Fabian, a Chaldean community favorite, offers preschool through eighth grade for some 385 students. Most teachers have or are getting their master’s degree and meet or exceed the Michigan Department of Education standards. Paraprofessionals are utilized in kindergarten through third grade, and students in all grades participate in at least one “special” class per day. Students learn Spanish starting in kindergarten. The school offers a wide variety of CYO and intramural sports. St. Hugo of the Hills Elementary and Middle School 380 E. Hickory Grove Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 (248) 642-6131 StHugoSchool.org Operated by the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and located on 30 acres, St. Hugo is a Blue Ribbon Exemplary School with a student population of about 565. Students typically score in the top 10 percent in math and reading tests. Extracurricular activities range from band to scouting to the National Geographic Bee. St. Isaac Jogues Elementary and Middle School 21100 Madison Street St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 (586) 771-3525 StIsaacJoguesSchool.org Established in 1956, St. Isaac Jogues has a population of about 300 students. Special clubs include choir, drama, forensics and yearbook. The school also offers preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and extended daycare. St. Joseph Elementary and Middle School 703 N. Lapeer Road Lake Orion, MI 48362 (248) 693-6215 StJosephLakeOrion.org Named an innovative model for other faith-based schools, St. Joseph, which dates to 1952, has more than 330 students in grades pre-K through eight. Through the years, the school has doubled the number of classrooms and added a media center, computer lab, science lab, fine arts labs, extended care and state-of-the-art technology. St. Lawrence Elementary and Middle School 44429 Utica Road Utica, MI 48317 (586) 731-0135 StLawrenceParish.com Established in 1931, St. Lawrence has about 800 students in pre-K through eighth grades. The school is accredited by the National Catholic Educational Association. The Mustangs play a number of sports, including lacrosse, and before- and after-school latchkey is offered. The Varsity Cheerleading Team won the winter CYO championship in 2016. St. Mary Elementary and Middle School 2 Union Street Mt. Clemens, MI 48043 (586) 468-4570 StMaryMtClemens.com St. Mary’s has been a pillar of Macomb County since 1871 by continuing their commitment to serving the community with faith-filled education for children from preschool through eighth grade. The school is accredited through the Michigan Non-Public School Accrediting Association and is a designated Michigan Green School. Music, handson science, art, Spanish and computers are part of the core curriculum. Activities include children’s choir, newspaper, national junior’s honors society, children’s ministry and student council. SCHOOLS continued on page 31 AUGUST 2016 CHALDEAN NEWS 29
