A group of South Sudanes graduates, known as 'Lost Boys' celebrated their graduation last year on June 9 at Resurrection Episcopal Church in Louisville. (The relationship between the picture and the article is symbolic)

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Courtesy: SUDANESE REFUGEE EDUCATION FUND

Sept.1, 2009 (Syracuse, NY, USA NSV)— After nearly a decade since the first Sudanese refugee set foot in Syracuse, New York, a group of graduate students called for a meeting to form a professional union that will bring all of them in one place for a common purpose today.

The union, known as the Sudanese Graduates’ Association was formed in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 under the supervision of elders Uncle Andrew Wieu Riak, and Uncle Manoah Majok—all of them graduates with masters’ degrees from United States and France respectively.

Syracuse, a home to about 600 Sudanese nationals (now Sudanese Americans), has nearly 40 Sudanese graduates with associate degrees to master’s degrees. Of that number, two have master’s degrees and three more will graduate with master’s degrees at the end of this year. Several more are pursuing their undergraduate studies in different areas of interest. One Sudanese national has recently been admitted to a doctorate program at Upstate Medical University.

Called to session by Jeremiah Gai, the assembly unanimously seconded the formation of the “Sudanese Graduates’ Association” as the start to contribution to the community. “You are the example to the rest of the community,” commented Jeremiah Gai in reference to the professionals. Andrew Wieu, one of the two observers, added that education is like a fire and can not be hidden; “put it up where everybody can see it,” he added.

After nearly two hours of careful deliberation, the meeting ended with nomination of three provisional executives to care for the young association. The three members of the executive are:

Jeremiah Ater Gai, Provisional Chairperson
Maker Costa Mapuor, Provisional Deputy Chairperson
Chol Majok Aguto, Provisional Secretary General

A full and permanent office shall be elected soon after the current three-member board draft laws and other documents and presents them to the general assembly for adoption.

Syracuse is one of the six cities in the Empire State—New York City, Utica, Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Binghamton—in which people of Sudan origin dwell. It is hoped that “this organization will grow and extend to the whole of New York State and beyond,” predicted Chol Majok.

Between 200 and 500 Sudanese graduated across American over the last five years.