The Eritrean Diaspora Scholarship Committee is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025–2026 Eritrean Diaspora Network (EDN) Scholarship. Now in its seventh year, the fund continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Eritrean students, and we remain committed to building on this momentum for years to come.
Thanks to the generosity of our community of donors, sponsors, and event supporters, we have raised more than $110,000 to date in support of the scholarship fund. This milestone would not have been possible without your continued partnership.
This year, we received a record 87 applications. After a careful review process, nine exceptional students were selected to receive $2,500 scholarships. We are honored to share their stories and their words of gratitude to the community that made this opportunity possible.
Arsema Zadu
Arsema Zadu is a fourth-year medical student at Howard University College of Medicine. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. She plans to pursue a career in dermatology, focusing on improving care for patients of diverse backgrounds and advancing health equity through research and clinical practice. She is also committed to giving back to the Eritrean community through mentorship and service. She will use the funds to support residency applications and expenses related to completing medical school.
Beilul Tesfai
Beilul Tesfai is a junior at Loyola University New Orleans, double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. She is passionate about mental health advocacy, community empowerment, and supporting underserved populations. Her goal is to pursue a career in clinical psychology, where she hopes to provide culturally competent care and create inclusive spaces for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Beilul is incredibly grateful to be a recipient of the Eritrean Diaspora Network Scholarship, which will help cover her academic expenses and allow her to focus more on her studies and long-term goals. She is inspired by EDN’s mission of strengthening connections within the Eritrean community and looks forward to giving back by supporting others on their journeys.
Betty Solomon
Betty Solomon is a senior undergraduate student at Brown University studying Applied Mathematics, with plans to continue her studies with a Masters in Applied Math/Mathematical Financial Engineering. With her math and financial engineering background, she hopes to pursue a career in Quantitative Research. Betty is deeply thankful for the EDN Scholarship that will serve as a great aid to cover tuition costs wherein Betty will be able to focus on her studies without the burden of financial stress. With the support of the EDN Scholarship toward her pursuit of higher education, Betty is determined to use her education not only for her own advancement but also to expand pathways for Eritrean youth: currently working in one-to-one mentorship for Eritreans in the college admissions process, she hopes to further create spaces where our youth can explore their academic interests, pursue advanced studies, and contribute to the global Eritrean Diaspora with confidence and purpose. Betty would like to thank all involved in the making of this scholarship– your work is vital in uplifting students of the next generation to achieve their goals, all the while strengthening the bond and impact of the Eritrean Diaspora.
Elsabet Bamako
Elsabet Bamako is a freshman at Oxford College of Emory University, where she is majoring in Nursing. Inspired by her passion for patient care, she hopes to one day become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Elsabet is deeply grateful to be a recipient of this scholarship, which will help cover her tuition and health insurance costs. As the daughter of a single mother, she has seen firsthand the challenges of balancing financial hardships with pursuing higher education. This scholarship not only eases the burden on her family but also allows her to focus more fully on her studies and future career. Elsabet sincerely thanks the donors for their generosity and support in helping her get closer to her dreams.
Mayla Merhai
Mayla Merhai is a freshman student at Georgia Institute of Technology (aka Georgia Tech!). Mayla is a Computer Science major and is looking to minor in public policy or political science. She is interested in Artificial Intelligence, app development and UI/UX design. In the future, Mayla hopes to break into big tech and explore leadership based tech jobs like a solutions engineer or product manager. She is also interested in possibly going to law school in the future for patent law. Mayla plans to use the EDN Scholarship funds to help with offsetting the cost of college and give her a head start by leaving college debt free.
Nazrawi Allen
Nazrawi Allen is a graduate student pursuing his Doctor of Law at the University of California College of the Law- San Francisco (formerly known as UC-Hastings). Nazrawi plans to use the funds for his cost of living while in school. He has been very passionate about the Law since he was a child and has dedicated his studies to the legal field and liberation studies, dedicating his undergraduate studies to learning about social systems and hierarchies, to volunteering with the Ministry of Justice in Eritrea in the summer season of 2024. Nazrawi’s mission is to advocate wholeheartedly for the welfare of Africans in the local, domestic, and global arenas. He plans to spend his years in the workforce as a Defense Attorney, advocating the targeted and vulnerable in the United States, and as an international policy advisor, working to build a better and stronger Africa.
Saron Dawit
Saron Dawit is a first-year nursing student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She has always had a heart for children, and her dream is to become a pediatric nurse who provides compassionate care to kids and families, especially those who may not have access to the resources they need. Receiving the Eritrean Diaspora Scholarship will help Saron cover her educational expenses as she continues building a strong foundation for her nursing career. She is honored to represent the Eritrean diaspora and hopes to use her education to give back, uplift her community, and inspire the next generation to pursue their calling with courage and compassion.
Winta Mehari
Winta Mehari is a first-year law student at Georgia State University College of Law. Winta is an alumna of Bard College, where she studied Political Science with a focus on North Africa and the Middle East. Winta is passionate about supporting vulnerable populations and fostering collaborative, inclusive spaces for change. Following undergrad, she committed to a two-year fellowship with Al Quds Bard College in the West Bank, where she launched international civic engagement initiatives and coached debate. Her goal is to start a non-governmental organization focused on refugee resettlement and empowerment. Winta is immensely grateful for the Eritrean Diaspora Network’s support to aid her law school journey and alleviate financial burdens. She hopes to pay it forward by offering support, education, and resources to the Eritrean community.
Yanet Reta
Yanet Reta is a senior at Boston University majoring in Psychology on the pre-medical track. Yanet is very grateful to receive the Eritrean Diaspora Network Scholarship, which will help her cover books and other academic expenses during her final year of undergrad. Yanet hopes to become a doctor, combining her passion for medicine with her commitment to supporting the health and well-being of her community. Growing up in an Eritrean household has taught Yanet the importance of community and giving back, and she plans to carry those values with her throughout her career. This scholarship not only eases Yanet’s financial burden, but also motivates her to continue working hard and one day give back to the community that has always supported her.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated Scholarship Committee for their time and care in reviewing applications, and to our generous donors who’s support make this program possible. Your commitment keeps our mission alive!
Onward and upward.