2016 Stuart Educational Foundation Scholarship Recipients
In 2016, the Foundation was pleased to be able to award scholarships to 41 motivated and deserving students. Here is just a sample of their inspiring stories.
Born and raised in Falls Church by parents who immigrated from Somalia, Abdillahi is characterized by those who know him as calm and caring. These traits are apparent to the children he enjoys working with, both as a youth mentor in his mosque and a volunteer at the monthly kid's night at a local shelter. Over his time at Stuart, his teachers noticed an increasing level of maturity in Abdi resulting from, in part, conversations with his parents about what it takes to be a responsible member of society. Abdi attends NVCC, studying biology and hoping to enter the field of medicine.
Having emigrated from Egypt, Hala is a first-generation college student with a passion for living a healthy life. Her teachers acknowledge her perseverance and dedication to succeed in advanced coursework. Diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, a condition she’d had since birth in her sophomore year, Hala transformed her own lifestyle, becoming more active both physically and within the Stuart community. She hopes to study medicine and help others learn to live healthier lives. Hala attends Virginia Commonwealth University.
“As a future teacher, [Katherine’s] goal is to see each and every one of [her] students succeed both in and out of the classroom.” For most of her life, Katherine has taught and cared for others starting with her younger siblings and extending into the classroom. There, she tutored others in math and worked with ESOL classmates in art to understand assignments by translating verbal and written directions. She earned the IB Diploma at Stuart and is a first-generation college student at University of Virginia.
Lamont spent much of his spare time beginning in the 9th grade earning money to support his ailing parents and his siblings. His grades suffered. But members of the community saw something in him and supported him by providing assistance that enabled him to concentrate on his studies. As a result his grades soared. This academic renaissance occurred concurrently with him playing multiple sports at Stuart and the football coach naming him captain of the team. Lamont, described as “exceptional” by multiple teachers who knew him well, became the first in his family to attend college when he matriculated at Hampton University.
Driven by her parents’ example and a fervent belief in the American Dream, Rimsha has excelled in academics, service, and public activism. Her DACA status ignited in her a quest to prove to society that she is “a diligent innovator who will bring good change to the world.” As part of her IB extended essay project, Rimsha made plastic from renewable resources and became inspired to study chemistry in college. Rimsha earned the IB Diploma at Stuart and joined the “Mason Nation” as a George Mason University Scholar.
Steven is a well-rounded young man. He played four years of multiple sports at Stuart, excelled in his IB courses, was a member of multiple honor societies, and led by example in the classroom. Years of encouragement from his mother, plus a timely conversation with his high school football coach, were instrumental in Steven earning an IB diploma. He intends to use the mechanical engineering degree he is earning at George Mason University to design more environment-friendly forms of transportation.
Noted for her strong work ethic, maturity, and determination to succeed, Tiffany embodies the key tenet of AVID – individual determination – a program in which she participated throughout her career at Stuart. Tiffany’s calm, uplifting presence and empathy for others fits well with her objective to become a nurse. The first in her family to attend college, Tiffany attends James Madison University.