Kensap
This is a program where approximately 12 students are selected on an annual basis from a group of 70 top performers from the annual KCSE (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination) based on their academic performance. In addition to the academic performance athletic capability or potential thereof is a selection criteria.
Other main criteria are social circumstances, academic potential and the fact that the student has been a top performer and persevered despite poor or inadequate conditions e.g studying at candlelight, being orphans, coming from a poor background and other similar factors.
These students are then tutored by US tutors for 7 weeks where they are assisted and prepared for the TOEFL examination. This period is made up of three weeks at the Mine site and then a further 4 weeks at the High Altitude Training Camp (HATC) of Lornah Kiplagat in Iten. After a break of approximately 4 weeks the students re-assemble at the HATC for a further 8 weeks where they then prepare for SAT I and SAT II examination.
Once the final results SAT II results have been received Mr John Manners then prepares applications to various universities in the USA for each student seeking fully sponsored scholarships for them. The success rate is 100% and all students are normally placed at an elite university in the USA where their education is fully sponsored.
This program was founded by prof Mike Boit and John Manners who have known each other since Mike was a high school student and John a Peace Corps teacher. Mike is now Professor of Sports Science at Nairobi's Kenyatta University, having won an Olympic medal at 800 meters, earned three degrees in the US, and served as Kenya's Commissioner of Sports for seven years. John is a journalist who spent 18 years as a writer and editor in various branches of Time Inc. and maintained his connection with Kenya by developing a sideline covering the exploits of its runners. They jointly conceived of KenSAP to try to extend opportunity to an educationally neglected part of Kenya-Mike's home region, and the place where John has spent all his time in Kenya.
For further detailed information visit www.kensap.org.
