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HSF: The Hungarian Scholarship Fund (Magyar Ösztöndíjalap)

How Hungary Shrank: Ostensibly in the name of national self-determination, the Treaty dismembered the thousand-year-old Kingdom of Hungary, a self-contained, geographically and economically coherent and durable formation in the Carpathian Basin and boasting the longest lasting historical borders in Europe. By drawing artificial borders in gross violation of the ethnic principle, it also transferred over three million indigenous ethnic Hungarians and over 70% of the country's territory to foreign rule.The American Hungarian Federation, through its Hungarian American Education and Cultural Preservation Fund (Amerikai Magyar Oktatási és Kultúrális Alap (AMOKA), supports scholarships to needy Hungarian ethnic minority students from 5 countries... AHF Board Member Bela J. Bognar, Professor Emeritus, founded the Hungarian Scholarship Fund (HSF) to finance the educational needs of needy students of Hungarian descent. The HSF is a tax-exempt organization. HSF's goal is to fund students regardless of the educational areas they pursue. In the past and present, there have been and are students in medicine and health, law, theology, business, natural science, education, the humanities and the arts. Students funded are economically disadvantaged and live in Hungary and in the lands which were separated from Hungary at the Treaty of Trianon following WWI costing Hungary 2/3 of her territory, 1/3 of her Hungarian population and vast natural resources.

To date, almost 140 ethnic-Hungarian students from Hungary, Transylvania, Slovakia, Transcarpathian Ukraine, and Vojvodina, Serbia (Vajdasag in Hungarian, annexed by Serbia) have benefitted from the HSF. Students must show demonstrated financial need, academic excellence and be willing to stay in or near their communities to benefit them. Graduates have gone on to pursue a variety of disciplines. As of June 2012, over 50 recipients have completed their university studies. Many have gone on to master's degrees while others have studied medicine law, dentistry, computer science, engineering, education, the sciences, social work, and theology. In addition to AHF, other major Fund benefactors include Doris Buffett, sister of the famous investor, Warren, and head of the Sunshine Ladies Foundation.

Dr. Bognar, affectionately known as "Professor Paprika" as he raises scholarship funds through the annual sale of his own garden-grown peppers, also founded the Hungarian Ancestry Scholarship Fund at Wright State University in the Fall of 1988. The HASF scholarships are available to students of Hungarian descent. [Read more about Prof. Bela Bognar]

For more information on the HSF

Prof. Bela J. Bognar
7919 E. St. Rt. 55
Casstown, OH 45312
Tel: (937) 857-9704
Email: bela.bognar@wright.edu

HSF Graduates (as of June 2012)

Name Region Major
1.   Adorjan Zsofia Csikszereda, Romania Special Education
2.   Agyas, Yvette Bacska Topolya, Serbia Special Education
3.   Antal, Katalin Szekelyudvarhely, Romania Theologie-English
4.   Barabasi Sandor Marosvasarhely, Romania Medicine
5.   Bartha Laszlo Marosvasarhely, Romania Biology
6.   Biro Angelika Nagybereg, Ukraine Social Work
7.   Biro Zsuzsanna Bogoz, Romania Elementary Edu.
8.   Chizmar Melinda Visk, Ukraine Elementary Edu.
9.   Costach Eva Beszterce, Romania Architecture
10. Csapo, Melinda Besenyszog, Hungary Medicine
11. Csernjavszkij Sandor Feketepatak, Ukraine Social Work
10. Danel Erika Csikszereda, Romania Business Admin .
12. Dranik Reka Kolozsvar, Romania Linguistics
13. Fekete Krisztina Csikszereda, Romania Creative Arts
14. Fencik Veronika Kassa, Slovakia Business Admin
15. Forro Krisztian Bacskossuthfalva, Serbia Preschool Edu.
16. Gajdos Kati Munkacs, Ukraine Elementary Edu.
17. Gecse Maria Sepsziszentgyorgy, Romania Religion
18. Gorog Nikolette
18. Imecs, Emoke-Terez Szentegyhaza, Romania Instuctor of Arts & Design
19. Jenei Klementina Orom, Serbia Hung. Language & Lit.
20. Juga, Norbert Dicsoszentmarton, Romania Engineering
21. Kapas Zsuzsa  Kassa, Slovakia Biochemistry
22. Kedves Narcisz   Mathematics
22. Kiss Zsuzsa Backamadaras, Romania History of Geology
23. Kovacs Tamas Miskolc, Hungary Medicine
24. Lorincz Csaba Szentegyhaza, Romania Medicine
25. Majoros Edina Satoraljaujhely, Hungary German Lit.
26. Majoros Laszlo Satoraljaujhely, Hungary Chemistry
27. Mathe, Antal Koppany Marosvasarhely, Romania Automatin Engineering
28. Mathe, Eva Uzdiszentpeter, Romania Reformed Theology
29. Rev. Mathe Zoltan Uzdiszentpeter, Romania Reformed Theology
30. Meszaros Alpar Richard Backamadaras,  Romania Math & Computer Science
31. Molnar Margit Nagydobrony, Ukraine Social Work
32. Molnar Zoltan Csonkapapi, Romania Physical Edu.
33. Nagy Aranka Szentegyhaza, Romania Education
34. Orosz Andrea  Izsnyete, Ukraine Social Work
35. Orosz Viktoria Izsnyete, Ukraine Social Work
36. Papai, Gabor Beregszasz, Ukraine Reformed Theology
37. Paracki, Teodora Szenttamos, Serbia Education
38. Penzes Andrea Nagybecskerek, Serbia Music
39. Sajtos Erika Fehergyarmat, Hungary Medicine
40. Sebesi  Attila Kezdivasarhely, Romania Engineering
41. Siklaky Hanga Budapest, Hungary Social Work
42. Siklaky Virag Budapest, Hungary Medicine
43. Simai Szilvia Csengersima, Romania                 Social Psychology 
44. Szabo-Nagy Zsuzsa Gyergyoszentmiklos , Romania   English/Communication
45. Szalai Melinda Iregszemcse, Hungary Mental Hygiene
46. Szappanos, Norbert Szatmarnemeti, Romania Computer Science
47. Szert Boglarka Budapest, Hungary Law
48. Szloboda, Reka Budapest, Hungary English
49. Tamasi Csongor Kolozsvar, Romania Agri-Engineering
50. Tar Istvan Beregszasz, Ukraine Physics
51. Tarjanyi, Tamas Kecskemet, Hungary Opera Singer
52. Father Topsi Balint Klezse, Csangofold Catholic  Theology
53. Toth Beata Csonkapapi, Ukraine Hungarian Language
54. Vigh Csaba Kolozsvar, Romania Computer Science

HSF Scholar Highlights

EVA COSTACHE-GEROCZI
Home: Beszterce, Transylvania (Rumania)
Eva graduated Magna Cum Laude (July 2003) from the Technical University of Budapest, Architecture. Was first in her class for four years. Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from the Anhalt University, Bernburg, Germany.

REKA DRANIK
Home: Cluj (Kolozsvar), Transylvania (Rumania)
Reka graduated in July 2003 from Babes - Bolyai University in Cluj, Transylvania (Rumania) Major: German, Japanese. Reka is considered a linguistic genius; she learned to read and write both in Hungarian and Rumanian while in preschool. In addition to those two native languages, she is fluent in German, Japanese, French and English and has reading knowledge in Chinese and several Slavic languages. In July of 2004, Reka earned her masters degree at the Babes-Bolyai University in Art and Languistics. Currently applying for Ph.D. Programs in Vienna and Freiburg.

LASZLO MAJOROS
Home: Satoraljaujhely, Hungary
Laszlo graduated in July of 2003 from the University of Debrecen, Hungary, majoring in Chemistry. He was admitted to the University of Paderborn, Germany, and began working toward a Ph.D. in Chemistry in January, 2004. Laszlo does not have to pay tuition. His fiancée, Edina, was also admitted to the same university with a major in German. They were married in Fall of 2004.

Hungarian Charity Balls


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"Alapszabályunk szerint célunk az, hogy támogassuk Magyarországon és az elszakított területeken azokat a diákokat, akiknek nehéz lenne tovább tanulni. Három szempontot veszünk figyelembe a diákok kiválasztásában: jó magyar legyen a diák, jó tanuló és szegény." - Prof. Bela Bognar
[Read more about Prof. Bela Bognar]

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Help AHF support this worthwhile cause and DONATE!

Click "Donate" below to make tax-dedictible donation to the Hungarian Scholarship Fund Online! Donate

Paypal

Follow the easy instructions and add a note to earmark your donation for this fund. Be sure to indicate what percentage of your donation is for the HSF Fund, AMOKA, vs. AHF general funds.

You can also mail a check payable to "American Hungarian Federation" indicating membership, HSF, or General Contribution in notes to:
American Hungarian Federation
C/O Tamas Teglassy, Treasurer
1805 Snow Meadow Lane, # 103
Baltimore MD 21209


12/28/2004 - "Nehéz az a tudat, hogy sehol nemvagyunk igazán otthon." A letter from Scholarship recipient Forró Krisztián:

"Tisztelt Dr. Szilágyi Pál!

Elöször is KELLEMES KARÁCSONYI ÜNNEPEKET kívánok önnek,az egész
családjának és mindenkinek,akinek a segztséget köszönhetem! Nagyon sokat jelentett az iskoláztatásomhoz az a pénz összeg, amit Bélabácsival gyujtöttek.Vagy jobbanmondva segítségként ajánlottak fel. Mind ahogy az önéletrajzomból kiderül Vajdasági magyar diák vagyok. Erre mifelénk elég ínséges idok járnak. Kormányválltás az elmúlt idoben rengetegszer történt, ígéretek is elhangzottak rengeteg helyrol még az anyaországból is. Sajnos a kettös állampolgársággal kapcsolatos népszavazás is
megbukott. Nehéz az a tudat, hogy sehol nemvagyunk igazán otthon.Vajdaságbana szerbek nem fogadnak el minket, az anyaországban szintúgy. Ezért is köszönöm, hogy ilyen távol is vannak segítokész emberek. Remélem egyszer adódik egy olyan helyzet, amikor ezt a segítséget meg tudom majd hálálni! Mégegyszer Békés Szeretet teli Karácsonyt kívánok!

ÖNÉLETRAJZ
Bácskossuthfalvi lakos vagyok,vagy ismertebb
nevén Ómoravica. A mit el kell mondanom a szüleimrol, hogy mindketten az egészségügyben dolgoznak. Édesanyám, Éva egészségügyi novér, édesapám László egészségügyi technikus. Mindketten az ,,Otthon,, nevu állami intézményben dolgoznak, ahol szellemileg fogyatékos emberek gondozásával foglalkoznak.

A családi helyzetemet nézve,szüleimmel élek. Egyke vagyok.1985 november 19-én születtem Bácska Topolyán. Az idén töltöm be a tizenkilencedik életévemet. Az általános iskolát Ómoravicán fejeztem kituno tanulmányi eredménnyel. Majd a középiskolát a topolyai Dositej Obradovic Gimnáziumban, 4,07-es jeles tanulmányi eredménnyel. Angol nyelvbol, magyar nyelvbol és képzomuvészetbol érettségiztem. Jelenleg a Szabadkai Óvóképzobe íratkoztam be, önkölcségire.Amit még rólam tudni kell, hogy nagyon szeretek sportolni, jártam küzdosportra is, és imádok festeni, rajzolni, zobrászkodni, a képzomuvészet minden részét. Ezért régi álmom, hogy rajztanár legyek. Szeretnék gyerekekkel foglalkozni, átadni minden tudásom, tapasztalatom és remélem sikerül majd ezt valahogy megvalósítani.

Sokmindent az ómoravicai muvésztelepen tanultam meg. Korongozást agyagozást. Ezenkívül résztvettem egy 20 órás számítástechnikai tanfolyamon, haladó szinten. Az idén egy második és egy harmadik helyezést értem el kerámia illetve festmény kategóriában a MIRK-en. Illetve a négy év középiskola alatt két évben én kaptam az elso helyezést az iskola versenyen. Ezenkívül sokat tevékenykedek a faluban, Teleházban. Megpróbáltam a felvételit Pécsen a képzomuvészeti akadémián, de úgylátszik, hogy oda a tehetségem nem volt elég, de nem szeretném abbahagyni a rajzolást. Rengeteg tanulni valóm van még csak szinte
lehetetlenség állami támogatásra bejutni itt Szerbiában a képzomuvészeti akadémiára,mert többnyire azok jutnak be akik az ottani tanárokhoz járnak felkészítore és kifizetik az órákat. Persze a szüleim anyagilag azt nem bírnák ezért íratkoztam ovóképzobe, majd onnan tanárképzobe szeretnék menni és így rajztanár lenni. Ez az álmom már kis elsos korom óta. Ezmellet szeretnék megtanulni angolul mert szerintem a mai világba már nélkülözhetetlen. Most a helyzetem olyan, hogy bent kell laknom Szabadkán, és mivel önkölcségin vagyok mindenért kell aránylag sokat fizetni. Ezért is nagyon köszönöm a segítséget, mivel e nélkül nehéz lett volna.

Tisztelettel: Forró Krisztián


Below are a few of the other programs
AMOKA has supported:

SUPPORTING HUNGARIAN SCHOOLS:

  • His vision was to create “Classrooms of the Future,” building Educational Bridges between the US and Hungary and Promoting Science Education. Seen here are Hungarian Parliament members Katalin Somfai, left, Janos Horvath and Monika Bartos greet McIntosh Middle School science students John Morris, 12, a sixth-grader, and Yasmeen Arslanagic, 12, a seventh-grader, at the Sarasota County middle school. They are creating a science community between students in both Hungary and the United States.

    5/12/2012 - AHF Donates Laptops to Zalaber Elementary School. Erika Fedor, AHF Social Committee Chair, presented the laptops to Albert Kiss, Principal of the Zalaber Elementary School. Also attending was AHF Associate President, Gyula Balogh and Zsuzsa Dreisziger heads of the Hungarian American Club in Hungary, AHF's sister organization.

    The donation is part of a larger "Classrooms of the Future" project that bridges Hungarian middle-school students in Zalaber with American counterparts at McIntosh Junior High School in Sarasota, Florida. The funds came from AHF’s Hungarian American Education and Cultural Preservation Fund (AMOKA) and the 2012 Hungarian Charity Ball held on May 10 sponsored by AHF and the Hungarian Scouts of Washington.


  • Smiling faces at the Reformed Church's Hungarian Language Elementary School of Vaján (Magyar Tanitási Nyelvü Református Egyházi Alapiskola Vaján)AHF supported the Hungarian School in tiny Hungarian Village in Slovakia. The school is located in a little ethnic Hungarian village of under 800 people, Vaján (or Vojany in Slovak after annexation following the Treaty of Trianon) in the Kassa District (Kosice) of Slovakia. Anti-Hungarian practices in Slovak state school registration and the Slovak Language Law forbidding the use of Hungarian in official business make it difficult for these historic communities to preserve their over 1000-year-old heritage. The smallest communities are the hardest hit and Church programs are the only option. Funds from the Hungarian May Ball co-sponsored by the Hungarian Scouts of Washington were targeted at this effort. [read more]
  • BÁCSKOSSUTHFALVA - Két csoportba összesen 53 gyermek jár. Ez az első és egyetlen református óvoda, amely államilag elismert Szerbiában. Ennek ellenére hivatalos úton sem sikerült elérni, hogy állami támogatáshoz jusson az intézményThe 2011 Hungarian Ball in Washington, DC, supported the Hungarian Reformed Church Nursery School in Bácskossuthfalva: Founded in 2005, this is the ONLY such school recognized by Serbian authorities. Despite the recognition, Serbia has refused to extend any financial support.

    The school is under serious financial distress and your support is greatly needed and appreciated.
    See the VIDEO INTERVIEW (magyarul magyarul).
  • wewreAHF supported Hungarian Schools in the Csango Regions. AHF held a gala event and honored Brother Csaba Bojte, whose incredible work resulted in the establishment of eight homes for the abandoned Hungarian orphans in Transylvania. In May 2005, he started building the first Hungarian School in the Csango Region, where the Romanian policy of destruction of Hungarian heritage is the strongest.100% of these proceeds went to Brother Bojte. [read more]

CULTURAL PRESERVATION:

  • About 40 members and guests and throngs of tourists witnessed the special ceremony as AHF President Atilla Micheller was escorted by Lt. Col. Steve Vekony (US Army) and the First Califiornia Hussar Regiment. Preserving a proud past: Hungarians and Americans have been connected inextricably from the start. Americans of Hungarian descent have fought and died in every American war since the War ofIndependence. Many of the Hungarian American heroes from countlessbattles are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

    Video of the 2007 Memorial Day Commemoration and Wreath Laying at Arlington National CemeteryAHF established regular commemorations to preserve the memory of these brave souls and serve as an educational resource for future generations.2007 Memorial Day Commemoration Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, for example, included a wreath laying the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and walking tour of Hungarian-American gravesites. [read more].
  • The Foundation's management team, including Amb. Geza Jeszenszky and Dr. József Halzl, are well respected and the organization's work is not only known to be highly effective and well managed, it is essential and worthy of your support. Seen here is AHF Social Committee Chair, Erika Fedor, with Foundation director, Amb. Jeszenszky.AHF donated to the Rákóczi Szövetség (Rakoczi Foundation) supporting ethnic Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin. The donation was targeted at providing scholarships and other support to students and families in Slovakia. Anti-Hungarian practices in Slovak state school registration and the Slovak Language Law forbidding the use of Hungarian in official business make it difficult for these historic communities to preserve their over 1000-year-old heritage.
    [read more]
  • The patch of Hungarian Scouting founded in 1909Hungarian Scouting - The Magyar Cserkészszövetség, the primary national Scouting organization of Hungary, was founded in 1912. Later, Hungary was a founding member of the World Scout Bureau in 1922. The first Hungarian National Jamboree in 1926 had 10,000 participants. Hungary hosted the fourth World Jamboree in 1933 at the royal forest of Gödöllo, outside Budapest, in which 26,000 Scouts from 54 nations camped together. The camp chief was Teleki Pál, the member of the International Committee who later became Prime Minister of Hungary. Scouting was well organized and popular in Hungary until it was officially abolished by the Communist regime in 1948, but remained nascent underground. In 2007, proceeds from the Hungarian Ball in Washington helped helped ensure Washington Hungarian Scout participation in the 21st World Scout Jamboree in England.
  • Rebuilding Museum following the disaster of Hurricane Katrina: AHF distributed funds to the Arpadhon (Albany, LA) Hungarian Settlement Historical Society (HSHS). Julia Bika of the Louisiana Hungarians, who also suffered the wrath of Katrina, represented AHF as our liaison to HSHS. The funds were used to rebuild the Society's main building that was damaged in the storm.

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