2019 Exceptional Muslimah, Sana Farhat

It is rare to meet a student with as much compassion and self-awareness as Sana. Her resilience, positivity, and humor are especially astounding given the number of responsibilities she has being the eldest of six siblings. As a young Muslim woman, her strength of character and identity serves as an education and inspiration to others. Given the depth of her experiences and her sophisticated understanding of family, community, and the world around her, Sana has an exceptional maturity beyond her 18 years. She is not only fluent in two languages, but also a gifted storyteller. She is not only a hard-working and disciplined student, but she is also a mentor to her peers and juniors. She promotes interaction and individualism as a student, and now, most recently, as the director of our center’s Summer Camp. She strongly believes in the power of engagement to spread peace and reduce intolerance. We are truly amazed at all that Sana has accomplished, and we feel that she is one of our most determined, caring, and balanced community members. Her enthusiasm is contagious when you speak with her, as her face lights up when she speaks about her friends, family, education, and ambitions for the future. We’ve been especially impressed by her fearlessness in group settings and participation in activities. Sana speaks with maturity and sophistication about what she is passionate about and frequently talks about her desire to promote community development and peace among all. From the programs she has spearheaded at our center to her active participation now as a teacher in our part-time Islamic School, Sana has already contributed a great deal to the positive reputation of her local Masjid ICSJ by organizing interactive workshops and empowering further young leaders in our community. The dedication that Sana has makes her a uniquely strong and determined individual. Her resilience and optimism have served her well as she has transitioned from a student to a teacher, and they will continue to serve her well in college and her career. Sana has the highest recommendation from Mufti Niaz Hanan, who's had the opportunity to teach Sana for about four years until she graduated from part-time Islamic School program this Spring. Sana will continually impress you with her involvement in the school community, her religious perspective, her unshakable spirit, and her focus on her academic success. We are all excited to see how far her educational and professional journey takes her.