NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, DC, July 28, 2024: Deepali Kannoujia, a class X student from Lucknow, has been selected for the prestigious US State Department’s Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. Deepali is one of only 30 students from across India chosen for this highly competitive scholarship.
Deepali’s journey has been marked by resilience and determination. Born into a family facing financial hardships, with both parents engaged in washing clothes for a living, Deepali’s academic aspirations seemed distant. The situation worsened when her father became bedridden following surgery. Despite these challenges, Deepali found clarity and focus on her goals.
“My daughter has been selected to go to America and study there. I don’t know how America is but I know that my daughter will do well there,” Deepali’s mother, Suman told PTI.
Deepali, the youngest of four siblings, was initially admitted to Prerna Girls’ School, a unit of the Study Hall Educational Foundation, which caters to girls from low-income and marginalized communities. Her excellent performance earned her a scholarship to the main Study Hall school.
Throughout her schooling, Deepali maintained an impressive academic record. With support from her school, she applied for the YES scholarship last year and succeeded in securing it. Deepali will fly to the US on August 19, where she will live with an American host family, attend a local high school, and participate in community service and civic education activities.
Deepali says she wants to become a doctor. She has decided to opt for science for her class 12 board exams and appear in the NEET.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, administered by the US Department of State, aims to foster civil society, develop youth leadership, and build enduring connections between Americans and participants from other nations. Students apply for YES scholarships through a competitive, merit-based process, making Deepali’s achievement all the more commendable.
Cover graphic for representational purposes only.
