Shawdesh  Report: Initiated by Executive member, Rehan Reza (Topeka, Kansas), each year FOBANA recognized a number of graduating outstanding high school students of Bangladeshi descent for their academic and extracurricular achievements. Since 2015, FOBANA has awarded scholarship to 30 students from seven different states. Each awardee will receive a plaque and $1000 cash. “The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage these talented students. We all should be proud of their achievements” told Rehan Reza to this reporter on the phone. He also mentioned that from next year award will be extended to students in Bangladesh. The details are still being working out.

Of the recipients of this year (2019), four are from New York, and one each from Mississippi, Missouri New Jersey, and Texas.

One of the four from New York is Shabiha Rahman. She is the daughter of Sk. Rakibul Rahman (Chittagong) and Dilshad Rahman (Dhaka). Sabiha is currently attending Stony Brook (New York) majoring in English. She wants to be a high school teacher. She has one older and a younger sister.

Two from Bronx High school of Science are Feizza Fazilatun and Rezwan Islam. Both are majoring in computer science, but at different universities. Feizza at Hunter College (New York) Honors program, while Rezwan at St. John’s University (New York). Feizza is also minoring in political science, which she may apply in local and community politics.  Her parents Nazrul Haque and Khandaker Haque hailed from Moulovibazzar and Sylhet, respectively. Rezwan is the youngest of two of Nurul Islam Miah and Helena Akhtar, both hailed from Jattrabari, Dhaka.

Sadia Chowdhury graduated from York Early College Academy and is now attending Hunter College (New York) with a major in Computer Science. She does not know yet what areas she wants to work on IT, but mentioned that she will be taking other classes to keep her option open in other major.

Two directly going to the professional school are Sadman Alamgir of Mississippi, who graduated from Madison Central High School, and Samita Islam of New Jersey graduated from Egg Harbor Township High School. Sadman is attending a pharmacy program at University of Mississippi, while Samita is attending 7-year medical program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Sadman is the middle of three children of Dr. Alamgir Hossain (Faridpur) and Salma Hossain (Dhaka). Samita is the eldest of two brothers and two sisters. Her parents Zahirul Islam and Afsana Anzum hailed from Comilla. Her father is the president of Bangladesh Association of South Jersey.

For the 1st time a student from Missouri received this award is Sakif Islam, who graduated from Liberty High School. He is the son of Rafiq Islam (Dinajpur) and Ismot Parvin (Kumarkhali). Rishad Islam of Texas graduated from Plano East Senior High school is the only son of Jahirul Islam and Sabira Akhter Keya, both from Khulna. Both Rishan and Sakif are attending University of Texas-Austin. While Sakif is majoring in Molecular Sciences, Rishad is double majoring in Physics and Mechanical Engineering.

Congratulations to all these students from Shawdesh news!