Mary Schweitzer Scholarship

November 12, 2011

On November 2, 2011, the Mary Schweitzer Scholarship was awarded to Diana Takutdinova and Tatiana Resniankaia of the Anthropology Department.  $1,750 was raised by alumni of the Anthropology Department in support of the award, dedicated to former AUCA Anthropology Professor Mary Schweitzer. 

The Mary Schweitzer Scholarship was established in 2009 by alumni of the Anthropology department to support students dedicated to excellence in the study of Anthropology at AUCA, and to honor Professor Mary Schweitzer, who taught at AUCA from 2002-2005. 

Alyona Rasquinha, an alumna from 2005, says, "During my second and fourth years in college Dr. Mary Schweitzer touched me by the way she treated every student – with dignity, care and respect. She always made sure that each student is given a chance and a voice. She treated each as equal and never challenged or made us think that we have little knowledge, she believed in us. She encouraged us to mine deeper into the experience we had, she taught us to reflect and evaluate it and move forward. Dr. Schweitzer’s commitment and dedication to her students touched me a lot – in the year 2005 when I was working on my thesis and Dr. Schweitzer was my supervisor, few of the Western scholars had to return to USA with the political upheaval in Kyrgyzstan, and so she also had to leave. But her commitment to me and my work were not interrupted; she was available any time on the Internet with her advice, review and her constructive critique and proof-reading. ?I am motivated to be a part of the Mary Schweitzer Scholarship because it is an extension of the kindness I personally received, and it is my small contribution in encouraging bright students, it is my way of saying, “there is hope” and “I believe in you.”

The outstanding Class of '05 Anthropology Alumni have had the foresight and commitment to encourage the next generation of anthropology majors at AUCA by establishing this scholarship.  This class has not forgotten the financial struggles and sometimes daunting intellectual challenges they themselves experienced as undergraduates.  So, through the scholarship, they offer a generous hand and moral support to anthropology majors who excel in their studies and show promise for the future.

The approaches and insights of cultural anthropology are needed today by people in the world who live with both the tensions and the advantages of cultural and ethnic differences, and who wish to move us forward in mutual understanding and peace.  It is important that these approaches and insights continue to be developed by future anthropologists. 

Alumna Gulmira Aldekeeva says, "It was my sophomore year when I first met Mary Schweitzer. The first subject she taught was Introduction to Anthropology. I was very much influenced by her professionalism and competence combined with careful and respectful attitude to her students. Beyond the university rooms we often had gatherings and trips to interesting places. We were 10 girls in our group and today most of them are continuing our career in the fields related to anthropology, be it MA studies, PhD or working in international organizations. I can surely say that it was the influence of Mary Schweitzer that all of us connect our careers with anthropology. Mary Schweitzer is a big person in my life whose example I want to pass to the new generation of anthropologists through Mary Schweitzer Scholarship. Diana, Tania and Aigerim deserve this scholarship because they are intelligent young women who impressed me by their diligence in their studies and active participation in extracurricular activities."

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