Bruno J. Mejean (B’74) and his wife, Martina Hund-Mejean, have donated $5 million to form the Bruno J. Mejean and Martina Hund-Mejean Endowed International Scholarship Fund for international undergraduate students enrolling at the McDonough School of Business. The gift, funded in part by a bequest in the couple’s estate plan, is the largest dedicated to international undergraduate scholarships in Georgetown’s history. International undergraduate students at the business school, specifically those who are residents of Morocco or countries in the European Union, will be eligible for the scholarship.
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“We’re deeply grateful to Bruno and Martina for their significant generosity and support of our undergraduate international students,” says Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia. “Our University is made stronger through the presence of our international students, and this new scholarship fund at our McDonough School of Business will enable new possibilities for our international students and deepen the global character of our community.”
Addressing international students’ financial needs
International students do not receive federal financial aid, which is typically reserved for U.S. citizens or eligible non-U.S. citizens, and may be ineligible for state financial aid. Extra expenses, such as non-resident tuition and fees, visa application fees, and international travel expenses, can further strain finances, meaning that many international students must work, in addition to attending class full-time, to meet basic needs.
“It is difficult for international students to secure enough grants and scholarships,” says Mejean, who worked every day and still needed financial aid from several sources to attend Georgetown as an international undergraduate student from Morocco. “These forms of funding are not typically covered by universities. That’s why this scholarship and its focus is so important.”
Mejean says Georgetown “opened so many doors” on his career path. In the years since graduating with a degree from the business school, Mejean has established a distinguished career in trade and project finance. Along with serving as a mentor to, and investor in, climate tech start-ups, he is the founder and managing partner of BJM International, a firm that specializes in arranging debt and equity for infrastructure and energy projects.
Mejean hopes the scholarship will encourage more international students to apply to Georgetown. “Now that I am in a position to give back,” says Mejean, “my wife Martina and I want to make sure that we contribute something that will benefit both Georgetown and its international students.”
Read more about Bruno J. Mejean (B’74) and Martina Hund-Mejean’s historic gift.