Fraser Heights Secondary student wins $100K 2023 Loran Scholar Award

2023 Loran Scholar Muhaddisa SarwariA student at Surrey’s Fraser Heights Secondary has been named one of this year’s Loran Scholars, standing out above nearly 4,800 other applicants from across Canada.

Grade 12 student Muhaddisa Sarwari was recently announced as one of this year’s 36 winners, following a months-long application process that included an essay, video submission and interviews with committee members and local leaders.

Only two students from Surrey Schools were shortlisted for this year’s awards, offered by the Loran Scholars Foundation to applicants who have demonstrated perseverance when faced with adversity, a sense of curiosity, kindness and leadership potential, among other qualities.

While all finalists are granted a $5,000 award, the main award is valued at $100,000 and will go towards post-secondary tuition, living expenses, mentorship programs and work experiences.

“Getting that call felt like a dream, it still feels so surreal,” said Sarwari. “I was with my family at the time, and everyone was just so happy, it was very emotional.”

Having faced adversity from a young age as her family immigrated across several countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia, Sarwari has made it her goal to become a human rights lawyer ever since arriving in Canada three years ago.

Now, with the financial means to achieve that goal, she is more committed to her cause than ever.

“That is still the plan, and this award has taken away all of our financial stress,” she said.  “It was so important for me to pursue a career that would help people like me, so they don’t have to go through the same things my family and I went through. This has strengthened that path for me.”

Sarwari spoke about her experiences during the 2023 TEDxSurrey event in January and hopes that by pursuing her dream, she can be a role model for all young Afghan girls.

“Seeing how girls my age in Afghanistan are fighting for basic rights makes me so grateful for these opportunities and I just hope that I can help those causes in the future,” said Sarwari. “No girl should have to fight to be who she is.”

As for what’s next, Sarwari will finish up Grade 12 in June and then look ahead to starting her post-secondary life at UBC in September.

“Before, I had no choice or control over my life, we had no right to education or employment,” she said. “Now I want to make sure others don’t have to go through the same thing.”

Congratulations, Muhaddisa!