Scholarship Recipients 2020/21

What does this scholarship mean to you?

“The focus of my research is the Tibetan diaspora and how ideas of memory, identity, nationalism and belongingness intersect with the use of digital media, technology and medicine. A large part of my research also dwells on communities across the Himalayan region, in terms of intersectional and inter – border cultural and identity formations. I do see myself pursing research beyond my doctoral studies.”

Tenzin Wangdak
PhD, Anthropology University of California, Irvine
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“As an experienced accountant in the financial services and the hospitality industry specializing in the restaurant industry, I have taken a step to join the MBA program at Baruch College to further my education. The MBA program provides an extensive curriculum that will broaden my expertise and help serve others more efficiently.”

Tenzin Dickyi Khangkar
MA Business Administration, Baruch College, New York
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“The rise of mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and Bipolar in the Tibetan diaspora is ever so evident. As a Psychiatric nurse practitioner, I will work to fight the stigma associated with mental health. I aim to educate our community by working with our local Tibetan associations and the CTA at large via workshops and various media outreaches.”

Tashi Dhonden
MSc, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“The need to develop management skills and affect changes within public administration is of utmost importance in our society so I can efficiently serve the community. I believe that my contribution will bring about positive differences irrespective of how small it is. Small changes will lead to bigger changes.”

Rinzin Tsomo
MA Public Administration, London Metropolitan University
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I am honoured to be a DLF scholar. In the near future, I intend to pay back to our Tibetan community as much as I have received. I feel that the lack of representation of different careers in our community is a major downfall. I hope to become someone who can represent my field in our community and when young girls see me, I would like to hear them say “If she can be a scientist, I can too.”

Dechen Wangmo
PhD, Genetics, Cell Biology and DevelopmentUniversity of Minnesota
Scholarship recipient 2020

“In my third year of medical school, I am immensely privileged to care for patients and help make clinical decisions that directly impact their wellbeing. Additionally, I take part in a specialized academic track focused on global health and acute medical care in low-resource settings.  My career as a physician will ideally apply all these lessons to help improve access to quality medical care for fellow Tibetans.  I am grateful and deeply humbled for the continued support of the Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship in pursuit of that mission.”

Deki Tsering
Doctor of Medicine,Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I am very grateful to be chosen as one of the Dalai Lama graduate scholars and I plan on using this opportunity well and represent the values that the a Dalai lama graduate scholar is expected to uphold. As a first generation learner in the family, my parents always made sure that me and my three sisters understood the importance of a good education and never compromised on the quality of it despite our humble background. With this scholarship, I will not only uphold the expectations of a Gaden scholar but also that of my parents and my family.”

Yeshi Lhamu
Masters in Tibetology. University of Hamburg
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I am interested in the power of narrative and story-telling in connecting peoples and communities and am eager to dig deeper into the craft of writing and reporting. My dream is to revisit Tibet and report from on-the-ground there. I am grateful for the Gaden Phodrang Foundation for entrusting me with a generous award in honor of His Holiness. This scholarship serves as an important reminder to wholeheartedly live out His Holiness’ ideals of compassion and care and to extend the generosity and privileges afforded to us by the older generations forward to future generations.”

Tenzin Dolkar Tsagong
Master of Fine Arts, Literary Reportage, New York University
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I aspire to develop and improve upon existing engineering technologies to treat brackish water and industrial wastewater for portable reuse. Deeply interested in monitoring environmental degradation patterns on the Tibetan plateau.”

Tenzin Phakdon
PhD, Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“I am deeply grateful to H.H. the Dalai Lama and Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama for the meaningful scholarship. The scholarship undoubtedly will assist me to fulfill my academic dream. That is to be a great Tibetan scholar who can represent Tibetan people and its culture for the global audience in the near future.”

Dhondup Tashi Rekjong
PhD, Religious Studies, Northwestern University
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“It is an honor to receive the Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship. I feel blessed, and at the same time understand that there is a huge responsibility that comes along with this award. Due to the blessing and visions of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibetans have achieved to preserve our culture and keep our struggle alive. Today we have an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to our cause and make change. We have to understand and realize that this is the time to give back to our community and our cause. That is how we will succeed.”

Tenzin Jigme
MA in Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
Scholarship recipient 2020

“My passion has always been to find out what I am good at and to apply it to best meet the needs of the Tibetan community. I hope to work on health equity and health care delivery in under-represented communities. Through the Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship, I feel empowered and encouraged to pursue my vision. I am humbled and deeply grateful to be a Dalai Lama Graduate Scholar.”

Tenzing Ravzam
MA in Physician Assistant Practice, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I received my B.S in Biochemistry from Gonzaga University in 2019. While preparing my dental school application the following year, I worked in various jobs, including being a dental assistant in two different practices. Starting in August 2020, I will be attending the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Dentistry for my D.D.S degree. I am very grateful and honored to have been awarded the Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship. I would like to thank His Holiness for his generosity and those who have taken the time to run this scholarship.”

Tenzin Sengye
Doctor of Dental Surgery, University of Maryland School of Dentistry
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I am the first and the only Tibetan student studying here in my university, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice. As His Holiness always focuses on conservation of environment and the impact of global warming, my research deals with understanding of how climate change affects our planet through hydrobiology.”

Lobsang Tsering
PhD, Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“I am honored to receive this prestigious award ‘Dalai Lama Graduate Award’. The fund helps me get more opportunities of training in material source languages, field works, and other research training which are not available in the university.”

Thinley Gyatso
PhD, Tibetan Studies, University of Toronto
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“I hope that I will be able to contribute towards the advancement of cancer research using my knowledge in medical physics. I am eternally grateful to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet and the foundation.”

Tenzin Kunkyab
PhD, Medical Physics University of British Columbia, Okanagan
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I was born in Lhasa, Tibet and grew up in Tibetan refugee boarding schools in India (TCV). Afterwards, my involvement in international development programs for Tibetan communities in collaborating with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Tibetan NGOs and witnessing the impact these development interventions have on the lives of individuals and entities encouraged me to draw deeper into development studies. I am deeply honored in being a recipient of The Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship and it is an affirmation that I am on the right track to confront poverty and inequality that the world is facing now.”

Tenzin Jigme
MA Sustainable International Development, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University
Scholarship recipient 2020

“I aspire to become a researcher in the field of translational oncology. The Dalai Lama Graduate scholarship had encouraged and supported me financially, throughout my journey to achieve my goal and I am forever grateful to the foundation. I hope my clinical research findings will contribute in cancer treatment.”

Migmar Tsamchoe
PhD, Cancer research, McGill University
Scholarship recipient 2020-21

“I will be pursuing a masters in computer science with a concentration in artificial intelligence and machine learning. I aspire to work for a software company writing machine learning models and to help innovate state of the art artificial intelligence. My ultimate goal is to become a chief technology officer of a software development company and lead the direction in which the company should take from a technological standpoint. I am honored to be a recipient of the scholarship and will make sure I represent Tibet to its fullest in every way possible.”

Tenzin Choezin Nanglo
MA in Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Scholarship recipient 2020

“One of my areas of interest is working in community mental health, through empowering and advocating for individuals that are often marginalized from society. My hope is to promote occupational engagement, enable independence, and improve the quality of life of the clients I work with in the future.”

Tenzin Chemi
Masters in Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto
Scholarship recipient 2020