We are pleased to announce the Recipients of the 2021 Imam's Generational Scholarship Fund.
|
Ahmad Ahmadzada, the eldest son of five siblings in an Afghan-American family, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, Neurobiology as a Regents' and Chancellor's Scholar (the highest honor given in the undergraduate program). He is currently a second year doctoral candidate in UC Berkeley's School of Optometry, halfway through successfully completing the program to become an eye doctor specializing in ocular disease. Ahmad grew up in the Sacramento area, where he is heavily involved with Masjid Tawheed in Elk Grove. Having taught multiple years at the Masjid in the sunday school, after school, and summer programs, Ahmad still leads bi-weekly halaqaat and gives talks to the community's youth, as well as Khutbah sermons. A proud Muslim and student of knowledge, Ahmad continues to pursue his studies while also serving his Muslim community much like his father, Shaykh Sayed Waheed.
|
Ahmad Altabaa is the son of Imam Mohamad Samer Altabaa and Mrs. Rouaa Kifou. Ahmad is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science from Texas Tech University and is in the process of applying to medical school. He hopes that one day he can use the skillset and knowledge obtained from his Political Science degree and combine it with some medical expertise in order to kick-start a career in Public Health and Medical Policy advocacy, a field that Ahmad believes is in desperate need of reform. One of Ahmad's favourite quotes and the one he constantly attempts to live his life through is "Work for this world as if you will live forever and work for the hereafter as if you will die tomorrow," by Ali ibn Abu Talib (ra).
|
Saarah Baig is a sophomore at George Mason University (GMU) studying Government and International Politics. Within the political science sector, she is interested in studying identity politics, comparative politics, and the American government. As a member of GMU's Honors College, Saarah is a research-driven student with an eye for tracking trends and analytics within her fields of interest and social sciences. She is passionate about civic engagement, community building, and making small steps to reach a larger impact. She hopes to pursue a career in political science to further the lifelong mission of many Muslims in their respective fields: to represent the misrepresented.
|
Amani Hagmagid is a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a Cinema major with minors in History and Creative Writing. Her primary focus is on Screenwriting and Directing. Her future goals are to writing and direct her own films that encompass topics of mental health and healing, while showcasing true American Muslim identities on screen. This past summer, a short film she wrote was produced by VCU titled "The House of Orange". The story centers around a young black man taking back land that was stolen from his ancestors. She was also able to direct her first short film titled "Fye Farm", a mockumentary piece on gentrification and legacy. She is currently working on a couple feature length pieces that she hopes shed a beautiful life on the American Muslim community and unique struggles that people go through.
|
Oumie Kulsum Jaiteh is a senior nursing student at Lehman College. She had an associate degree in dietetics and nutrition from Bronx Community College and a Certified Patient Care Technician and Nurse Assistants from ABC Training Center. She is currently working part-time at the whole foods market. She had Dean's and President's List from Bronx community college and Dean's List from Lehman college. She actively participates in extracurricular activities, school activities, and special interest clubs such as the Muslim student association. She had learned to have empathy, be respectful, humble, and being collectivist. She is compassionate with helping and caring for people, especially those who come to her need. She dreams of becoming a successful individual both with her education and career to support women, her community, and those in need at large to ease the pain she feels when she sees people suffering.
|
Mawaddah Nururrahamah Joban is the daughter of Imam Mohamad Joban. She recently graduated Eastlake High School and Bellevue College while earning an Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences. She will be attending the University of Washington this fall to pursue Psychology with an interest in the clinical field of Psychology. Nura is currently a member of IMSA Youth -an organization for Indonesian Muslims across the United States- as one of the Social Media managers. Additionally, she volunteers at her local masjid, MAPS during events they host such as Eid or Ramadan. Outside of academics, her hobbies include reading, baking, and biking.
|
Mubasheer Joban was born in Olympia, Washington, the older of twins. At a young age of 12 years old, he was able to memorize the entire Quran under the guidance of his beloved father, Imam Mohamad Joban. He recently graduated from Eastlake High School as well as received his Associates degree from Bellevue College through the Running Start program. He served as an officer for his local Masjid (MAPS) youth group throughout his years in highschool. Currently. he is an Executive and Knowledge Team member of Indonesian Muslim Society in America (IMSA) youth. Mubasheer also lives a very active lifestyle and especially enjoys going hiking and playing soccer as he was also the captain of his premier club team.
|
Mohammad Mahdi M. Shahkolahi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University, where he studies Islam, Christianity, interreligious dialogue, and religious pluralism. He serves his local community in the DC Metro area as an Imam at Manassas Mosque, an Islamic Studies teacher at a local Muslim school, a professional chaplain at a local hospital, and as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. In his free time, Mohammad teaches Quranic Arabic to students across the country. He is passionate about community building, Islamic education and literacy, and chaplaincy and mental health in the Muslim community.
|
Mahmoud Qasim obtained his Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from Yarmouk University in Jordan in 2016. Br. Mahmoud is a master in Qur'anic recitation with certification as a trainer by the "Conservation of Holy Qur'an Society". He has mastered the license "Ejazah" in the Holy Qur'an Recitation with Sanad connected to our beloved Prophet (PBUH) in many narrations. He has widely travelled and has led Tarawieh prayers in several countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the State of New York as well as TX. He was nominated by the ministry of Awqaf to represent the Kingdom of Jordan in many Qur'an Competitions for Memorizing and Recitation of the Holy Quran in Algiers Competition (2012), Dubai Award (2013), in Bahrain Kingdom (2015), Kuwait Prize (2016) and lastly in (2017) Obtained the 3ed rank in Egypt Competition. He is currently holding the position of Imam in Alhedayah Islamic center in Fort Worth, TX.
|
Osamah Qatanani is a rising senior at Williams College up in Massachusetts majoring in Economics. He is the son of Sheikh Mohammad Qatanani who is the Imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County and one of the interfaith leaders in the United States, particularly in the Northeast. Osamah is super passionate about financial sustainability in our Muslim communities, particularly our Masajid, and actively promotes startup culture and entrepreneurship among young Muslims with strong ideas but no means of funding or execution. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, spending quality time with family and friends, and working on random entrepreneurial ideas.
|
Kenny Solis is a researcher in Islamic Studies and Philosophy. He is interested in topics of Intellectual history: epistemology and human values, theology, law, historiography, socio-political, Sufism, pedagogy, ethics, western philosophy, political philosophy, Arabic language and culture, and Islamic philosophy. He received his B.A. in Political Science and Law from CSULA while simultaneously pursuing a degree at College of Islamic Studies, IOK Seminary, and a B.A. at Cal Islamic University in Theology and Islamic Law. He is currently finishing a graduate program with Bayan Claremont School of Theology while completing an M.A. in Religion with a focus on Islamic Studies and a certificate in Chaplaincy. He has taught for institutions like Maarif School, LinkOutside Prison Outreach, Insight Academy, LALMA/La Asociacion Latino Musulmana de America, Latina Muslim Foundation, ICNA, Islamic Learning Center ICNA, Masjid Noor Rosarito/Tijuana, Jalisco Mexico.
|
Nora Zaki is a chaplain and will be studying at Bayan housed within Chicago Theological Seminary for a Master's in Islamic Theology. She worked at Vassar and Bard Colleges as the Advisor for Muslim Student Life. She's worked as a college chaplain at Dominican University, the first Muslim hospital chaplain at Tampa General Hospital, and has volunteered as a prison chaplain in both Chicago and Tampa. Nora is secretary of the Association for Chaplaincy and Spiritual Life in Higher Education (ASCHLE) and a member of the Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC). She is interested in Quranic and Islamic Studies, particularly Islamic ethics. Nora has been published in the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab and has a chapter in the book, One Nation, Indivisible: Seeking Liberty from the Pulpit to the Streets.
|