Samat Panov from Kazakhstan became State Alumni Member of Month

ASTANA. February 26. KAZINFORM /Zhanna Korkitova/ Alumnus of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program from Kazakhstan Samat Panov received an award of the U.S. State Department.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Kazakhstan John Ordway has handed over "Alumni Member of the Month" award to Samat Panov today on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

Every month the U.S. State Department selects the best on in the category State Alumnus of the Month among the graduates of exchange programs sponsored by the American Government from all over the world. The main selection criteria are leadership qualities, career opportunities and public activity of the alumnus in his country. This month representatives of Kazakhstan Samat Panov received the award.

Panov is an accomplished leader in business and community development in his native Kazakhstan. Since receiving his MBA through the Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program in San Francisco, California, he has initiated a number of projects to enhance youth leadership skills, create networking opportunities for professionals and promote educational exchange programs. The Astana Alumni Association (AAA) was established in May 2010. Panov was elected the first president of the association, which unites alumni of U.S. government-sponsored and other exchange programs in Astana to contribute to the development of education, public health and community service in Kazakhstan.