Azerbaijan Alumni Coordinator Samir Khalilov Recognized for his Commitment to FLEX Alumni Program

FLEX Alumni Coordinator (AC) Samir Khalilov ’06, who works with and coordinates the activities of FLEX alumni in Azerbaijan, was named AC of the month for May 2009! The AC of the Month award is bestowed upon the Alumni Coordinator who has exhibited outstanding professionalism in one or more of the following categories: conducting alumni activities, compiling information on FLEX alumni successes, working with media, and securing cost-sharing opportunities.

In the words of Azerbaijan Country Director Amy Petersen, “There is a great alumni community [in Azerbaijan], and they all rally around Samir.” According to Petersen, “the alumni are involved in volunteer projects, professional development, social events – everything.” Indeed, “everything” might well be a good word to describe the span of Samir’s influence on the Azerbaijan alumni community. From his long-term commitment to the UN in the Regions project, to his recent Teach the Orphans initiative, from his sensitivity to the March tragedy at the National Oil Academy, to his work linking alumni from multiple U.S. educational programs (such as the Edmund S. Muskie and the U.S. Educated Azerbaijan Alumni Association) Samir’s time as AC has allowed him thrive in one of the things he does best: unite alumni in Baku and across the country to share their skills for the betterment of Azerbaijan.

In January of this year, Samir and a group of alumni decided to bring the model UN, an academic simulation of the United Nations, to the Imishli region of Azerbaijan, located southwest of Baku on the border with Iran. In the ensuing four months, the alumni – with major contributions by Nijat Akhmadov ’08, Kamran Mammadzada ’08 and Samir – made multiple trips to Imishli, explaining their personal experience with model UN, and teaching the group of 18 students from local English clubs how to research their assigned countries, as well as how to write “position papers” and speak publicly. Simultaneously, in early March, Samir helped to initiate the “Teach the Orphans Project,” which will prepare a select group of orphans from the SOS Children’s Village in Baku for the FLEX test by holding weekly English language lessons. The project recently received a huge boost with a $3,500 contribution from an anonymous Azeri sponsor.

In late April, in response to the tragic shooting of twelve people at the National Oil Academy outside Baku, Samir led FLEX alumni in a memorial march and ceremony, in a show of solidarity with other Azeribaijan youth.

Samir has also played a crucial role in celebrating and sharing FLEX as an opportunity. His work in early December 2008, on the “Red” portion of the 15th Anniversary Colors of FLEX initiative – a blood drive – and his contribution to Global Youth Service Day, via a clean-up of the shores of the Caspian Sea, have demonstrated his ongoing dedication to the values the program supports. The Azerbaijan Red Cross Association recently recognized the commitment of FLEX alumni with a certificate of appreciation.

Samir has been accepted into the Global Undergraduate Exchange, administered by the International Research and Exchange (IREX) program, and will study Accounting at a University in Missouri.

This outstanding AC alumnus deserves the award for FLEX AC of the Month for his excellence in uniting the alumni community, and acting as a positive driving force at its core.