Muhareb Family Grant

 

The Muhareb Family Grant, established in honor of Ken Muhareb, holds a distinctive place at Fresno State as the university’s first dedicated scholarship fund for international students. Ken Muhareb, a Palestinian immigrant from Jerusalem, came to the US in the 1960s, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Fresno State, and went on to help more than 100 people from the Middle East immigrate to the United States to attain the American Dream, before he passed away in 2016.

Continuing that legacy, his son Michael Muhareb and Michael’s wife, fellow Fresno State alum, Brittany, created the grant as a “door opener” for all international students, regardless of their country of origin. While Ken’s personal legacy centered on supporting immigrants from the Middle East, the family made a deliberate choice to open the grant to all international students, regardless of their major or country of origin. As Michael put it, “our family didn't want any restrictions on it, as we just wanted to give someone like our dad an opportunity. It doesn't matter where you're from. If you are talented, and you want to be here and you want to do things the right way, then we want to help you."

The grant grew organically since Fresno State’s 2018 Day of Giving campaign. The Muharebs issued a challenge gift, inspiring community members to join in and turn their original pledge into a much larger combined donation split among five international students. Ever since, the family’s $5,000 in matching funds has helped raise nearly $15,000 annually for international students. Michael intends to keep offering the grant every year.
Recipients have come from a wide range of countries, continents, and majors, reflecting the family’s commitment to keeping the grant free of restrictions. For Fresno State, which prizes the global perspective international students bring to campus and the local community, the grant represents both a meaningful tribute to Ken Muhareb’s story and a practical investment in the university’s diversity. As the Dean of the Division of Continuing and Global Education, Dr. Scott Moore, explained, “International students share globally diverse ideas, values, and perspectives with our domestic students, our campus, and our community. Some people in our region have not yet had the opportunity to travel internationally, so exposure to global diversity is most likely to occur here, at Fresno State. That's why attracting international students is so important!”

Please note that the Muhareb Family Grant is available to a select group of newly admitted international students for their very first semester. No application is required, as all eligible students are automatically considered, and recipients are selected based on a combination of academic achievement, financial need, and funding availability. The award amount ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 per student. For more information, please contact international@mail.fresnostate.edu