Faridah american biography and genealogy

Faridah is the Arabic word for unique and exceptional. Dr. Faridah Awang learned that early in life from her grandmother, who raised her, her older brother, and a cousin in a rural community on the southeastern tip of Malaysia.

Living up to her name became a personal quest, and the key to achieving it was education.

Being unique doesn’t just happen, as far as Awang is concerned. “Success is not accidental, it’s a mindset,” she says. “Many times being comfortable can ruin you. What happened to me, I was tested by so many challenges. And it was a contributing factor for me to keep going. If I didn’t have all these challenges, I might be simple Faridah. The challenges are what gave me my uniqueness.”

Published in SIUC Alumni Magazine. “Simply Unique: Personal Challenges Build an Inspiring Identity for Alumna” by Caleb Hale, Editor

Establishment of the Faridah Awang Scholars Program, Inc. Timeline

August 2019
  • 16 – Met our lawyer in Richmond, Kentucky, USA.
  • 17 – Met one of our Board of Directors in West Chester, Ohio, USA.
  • 31 – Met both Board of Directors in Carbondale, Illinois, USA.
September 2019
  • 13 – The Faridah Awang Scholars Program, Inc. was formally established by the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
  • Received tax-exempt organization 501 (c) (3) status.
February 2020
  • 11 – The FAScholars Program, Inc. officially began accepted scholarships applications.
May 2020
  • 1 – Scholarship applications were closed.
July 2020
  • Scholarship finalists online interviews.
August 2020
  • Scholarship award winners announced.
September 2020
  • Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
October 2020
  • The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2021 scholarship applications.
February 2021
  • Scholarship applications were closed.
July 2021
  • Scholarship finalists online interviews.
August 2021
  • Scholarship award winners announced.
September 2021
  • Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
February 2022
  • The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2022 scholarship applications.
August 2022
  • Scholarship finalists online interviews.
September 2022
  • Scholarship award winners announced.
  • Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
February 2023
  • The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2023 scholarship applications.
July 2023
  • Scholarship finalists online interviews.
August 2023
  • Scholarship award winners announced.
  • Financial award money disbursed to scholars.
February 2024
  • The FAScholars, Inc. officially began accepted the 2024 scholarship applications.
August 2024
  • Scholarship finalists online interviews.
September 2024
  • Scholarship award winners announced.
  • Financial award money disbursed to scholars.