More good news for Mehrangez Rahmatova.
AAUW-Hawaii is sending the student from Tajikistan to the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders at the University of Maryland this week. Each year one young woman receives a scholarship to attend the three-day conference and also tour Washington D.C. At the request of Jamie Pardau, Kona branch member and state president, Mehrangez, who landed on the Big Island to start her studies instead of landing in an arranged marriage, applied for and won the scholarship.
AAUW-Hawaii held their state convention in April on Kauai. Six women from the Kona Branch attended. At the convention, Mehrangez was introduced via video interview and thanked the organization for their support. Her heartfelt appreciation resulted in a spontaneous “passing of the hat” to collect over $500 for her college expenses.