Stella Graduates!

Stella Wanjiru Kinandu, a student at Daystar University from 2001-2005 , was sponsored for a scholarship by Church of the Palms. She graduated on June 24 th , 2006, with a degree in Communication (Public Relations and Print Journalism). She worked very diligently to fulfill the requirements for her degree. Daystar's graduating class this year conferred diplomas and degrees on about 500 students with an audience of 10,000 people looking on. That's 20 guests for every student! In some cases, whole villages sacrificed to rent a bus to be at the ceremony. Here is Stella's message to our members:

“First and foremost my gratitude goes to God for enabling me to fulfill my dream of becoming a journalist. Who would have guessed that this little girl from such a humble background would go to university and be the first in her family to attain a degree?

I am not praising you for I have nothing to gain from it. But God knows that I will always be indebted to you for what you have done for me. By assisting me, you have liberated my children and grandchildren from the illiteracy and economic hardships they might have had to go through.

I thank you once more for who I am right now and who I am aiming to become in future. May I also learn to reciprocate the same gratitude to others!”

Daystar University, located in Nairobi, Kenya , is non-denominational and the largest Christian liberal arts college in Africa . Daystar University exists to provide low cost, high quality education for students from across Africa . Daystar's faculty sees its primary task as training leaders of integrity and equipping them with the tools necessary to face the serious challenges of a developing continent. With more than 1,900 full-time students, Daystar University has become a shining star of hope for Africans of all backgrounds by offering fully-accredited degrees to a growing number of students. Daystar offers B.A. and M.A. programs, plus a variety of practical extension and short courses to assist those already involved in Christian ministries. Church of the Palms supports Daystar with two student scholarships.

Look for further information about our two new scholarship students in the weeks ahead. We have a computer guru and a community development specialist growing in faith and purpose at Daystar. Praise the Lord!

Daystar US (the support arm for scholarship assistance) is planning two trips to Kenya this year: one in February and one in June. They are less than $4,000 per person. If you are interested, contact Jeanne Armstrong at 359-8907 for further information.