Youthlinc is pleased to announce the awarding of five academic scholarships honoring Real Life high school seniors and college students of refugee or immigrant background. We would like to recognize the Low Family Foundation, the Barker Charitable Foundation and an anonymous donor for their contributions to make this award possible. In 2020, we awarded one $5,000 winner, one $3,000 winner and three $2,000 winners for a total of $14,000 in college scholarships.
Rock Douka Boulingul,
Olympus High School
Rock is from Brazzaville, Congo. He and his parents came to the United States as refugees when he was fourteen. Only a few months later his father passed away. Rock experienced many difficult hardships as a child. As a result of his many early life traumas, he developed a learning disability. Although school has been very difficult for him, he is determined to be strong and succeed in his everyday life. He will be going to Salt Lake Community College. He plans to study computer science with hopes to design his own video games. He has dreams of going back to Congo to help the people there. He wants to help by providing clean water and building schools for the children. He knows having a good education and career will allow him the opportunity to achieve this goal.
Mahmood Ahmad,
Olympus High School
Mahmood is from Afghanistan. There is a saying in his language, “Good days have bad things that pass and bad days have good things that pass too.” Although things have not been easy for Mahmood, he kept working hard. The hard days passed and he got used to his new life in the United States. His old dream was simply to get a good education but his new dream is to make a good life for his parents. He is determined to do whatever it takes. He plans on attending Salt Lake Community College where he will study computer science and/or web development. He says that education is not only something he is interested in but it will put him on the path to a successful career which will allow him to help his family. As a child in Afghanistan, he learned the principle of service. He wants to obtain an education so he can help others.
Walaa Hmeida,
Salt Lake Community College
Walaa is from Syria. She and her family were forced to flee their war-torn country when she was only eleven years old. They lived in Turkey for the next three years. In 2016, her family had the opportunity of coming to the United States but the transition into their new life was not easy. She is now on the path to achieving her dreams. She has completed her second semester at Salt Lake Community College and is studying psychology. She wants to become a psychotherapist. One of her biggest dreams is to help children who live in dangerous environments. She wants children to have the opportunity to dream of magic instead of poverty or war. Walaa is currently working with Asian Association of Utah as an instructor in their after-school program at Olympus High School where she was a past student of this program. Walaa hopes to be the change she wants to see in the world.
Jeanine Ingabire,
Utah International Charter School
Jeanine is from Rwanda. She came to the United States in 2017 as a refugee. Starting a new life in the United States was hard. It was challenging to find affordable housing and healthcare let alone food and clothing. Because of the challenges she experienced as a refugee and beginning her new life in America, she is determined to help make things easier for others. Jeanine has a desire to go to college to obtain a business degree. As a child in Rwanda, she was inspired by the many women with small businesses in her country. She wants to be a business woman to help others. As a leader she wants to listen, help solve problems and more importantly let others know she cares.
Eliza Kashindi,
Utah International Charter School
