According to the Arab business and financial portal “zawya.com”, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) presented last week scholarship assistance checks totaling $1,652,434 to the Lebanese American University (LAU), as declared in a statement issued by the university Monday.

LAU Assistant Vice President for financial affairs, Emile Lamah, received the aid from USAID/Lebanon acting director Thomas Staal Friday.

This assistance is part of a $3.7 million grant to LAU in the year 2008 and will aid over 410 qualified students.

Through USAID, the US has provided a total of $10.1 million to five educational institutions in Lebanon in 2008, namely the American University of Beirut, LAU, Haigazian University, the American Community School and International College.