Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, the daughter of Stanley Ann Dunham, shares her mother’s passion for education and peacebuilding, and her half-brother Barack Obama’s gift for words.

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, young Maya was home-schooled by her mother and traveled with her to small villages throughout Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. She watched her mother learn every detail about the work of traditional craftspeople and help create sustainable livings for them through micro-financing. “My mother was very determined to be remembered for a life of service and thought that service was really the true measure of a life.”

Dr. Soetoro-Ng holds a Ph.D in Comparative Education and has worked at the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and at the University of Hawaii’s College of Education for many years. She teaches Peace Education and Leadership for Social Change, launched a nonprofit organization and national curriculum called “Ceeds of Peace,” and has worked with youth around the country to promote community service and civic engagement.

Currently an advisor to the Obama Foundation for the Asia Pacific region, Maya continues to dedicate herself to helping others and fostering community around the world. Part of her job is to select emerging leaders who are committed to working in and on behalf of communities in Asia and the Pacific. She says, “Incorporating the unique insight of these young leaders, we intend to surround them with mentors, organizational supports, advocates and philanthropists and we hope that our program will allow for deep friendship and multi-stakeholder collaboration as the leaders transform conflicts and tackle problems all across the Pacific.”

Governor Jay Inslee and Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng talk to applicants

On Saturday, May 21^st, the Stanley Ann Dunham Fund granted scholarships to graduating seniors Holly Waggoner and Rose Guttman from Mercer Island High School, the same high school that Stanley Ann Dunham graduated from in 1960. The fund also presented a monetary award to graduating senior Sumaya Mohamed from the University of Washington, the winner of this year’s UW/Dunham Essay Contest.

Governor Jay Inslee, Maya Soetoro-Ng and 2016 applicants at the 2016 Scholarship Ceremony

On Saturday, May 21^st, the Stanley Ann Dunham Fund granted scholarships to graduating seniors Holly Waggoner and Rose Guttman from Mercer Island High School, the same high school that Stanley Ann Dunham graduated from in 1960. The fund also presented a monetary award to graduating senior Sumaya Mohamed from the University of Washington, the winner of this year’s UW/Dunham Essay Contest.

At the Ceremony we welcomed two very special guests: our keynote Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, Stanley Ann Dunham’s daughter and President Barack Obama’s sister, and Governor Jay Inslee.

Governor Inslee opened the ceremony by proudly congratulating Mercer Island for its high school’s distinguished alumna, Stanley Ann Dunham. “Because of her life” he said, “700,000 people in our state have health care today.” He was referring to the number of people who have been able to acquire health care under President Obama’s new health care laws.

Our guest speaker, Dr. Maya Soeteoro-Ng, shares her brother’s dedication to public service and their mother’s passion for global citizenship and social justice. A professor of peace education and conflict resolution at the University of Hawaii, Dr. Soetoro-Ng speaks worldwide about her peace initiatives.

Dr. Soetoro-Ng feels a strong connection with Mercer Island. She spoke about how her mother’s years growing up on Mercer Island influenced her: “It gave her enough of a sense of community, spirituality and grounded-ness that she was brave enough to go off to Indonesia,” she said.

Dr. Soetoro-Ng candidly shared her own experiences as a mother of two young girls. She especially moved the audience when she spoke about her adopted daughter. Her speech was followed by a Q and A, where we learned more about her teaching and childhood in Indonesia. Although Dr. Soetoro-Ng’s speech was geared towards the teen applicants to the Scholarship, she inspired everyone in the room.

Finally the big moment arrived: it was time to announce the winners of the Scholarship. Board members Susie Rosenstein and Maxine Box recognized the accomplishments of each of the five finalists, who have volunteered to improve living conditions and opportunities in the areas of education, gender equality, homelessness and public health. The five finalists were the finalists were Eliana Grosoff, Megan Lee, Piper Casey, and this year’s scholars, Holly Waggoner and Rose Guttman.

For the second consecutive year, the Fund presented an award to the winner of an essay contest held by the University of Washington Anthropology Department. The winner, senior Sumaya Mohamed, plans to pursue work with vulnerable populations in global public health.