Ishak Hanna Kafrouni was born in Homs, Syria, as the youngest of 10 brothers and sisters. He graduated from the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, with a bachelor’s degree at the young age of 19. He then immigrated to Cairo, Egypt, to seek his fortune, which he found in Victorine Zaidan, whom he married shortly afterward.

Ishak Kafrouni worked in the Egyptian government in Giza for approximately 45 years. He was Director of the Art and Printing Department during King Farouk’s reign and Gamal Abdel Nasser’s presidency. In order to provide a good education for his children, he moved the family to Heliopolis, in close proximity to private schools. That meant a daily, one-way commute for him of more than an hour by metro and bus transportation to his office six days a week. He sacrificed much time and effort to provide his children with the best education. As a result, two became nurses, two became teachers, and one a surgeon. It was easy for them to relate to a loving, heavenly Father when they were blessed with such an exceptionally caring, earthly father.

Following an evangelistic meeting in Cairo, Egypt, Ishak Kafrouni was converted to the Seventh-Day Adventist faith and was baptized by Neal C. Wilson in the Heliopolis Church. He then took a giant step of faith and resigned from his high-position government job, which only gave him Fridays off. However, his chief, after finding the reason for his sudden resignation, granted him both Friday and Saturday off every week. It was a miracle in answer to the church family’s fervent prayers.

It was his custom to take the Bible and many of Ellen G. White’s books and find a quiet room, saying with a grin, “I am going to school now.” Others knew not to disturb him while he spent many hours at a time studying God’s Word. Ishak Kafrouni loved to witness and share the knowledge he acquired from his many hours of study with friends and anyone else who would listen. He praised God often for the great things He had done for him and his family. His enthusiastic witnessing led others to the truth and brought great joy to his own heart. It is for this reason that his daughter, Laurice Kafrouni Durrant, established the Ishak Hanna Kafrouni Scholarship.

Scholarship award requirements

This scholarship is awarded to a theology student who is dedicated to witnessing about our soon-coming Savior.

Student Recipients

2021-2022 - Samantha Lee Perez
2020-2021 - Eh Dahlay Way 
2018 -2019 - Jason Fuller
2017-2018 - Edgar Restrepo 
2016-2017 - Abel Mims