Announcement
Students Celebrate their 2018 Graduation
Photo: Andrew Holzschuh
The International Rescue Committee in Dallas will host the 3rd Annual High School Graduation Dinner this May, honoring fifteen refugee students as they celebrate this monumental achievement and prepare for their college journeys. The evening will celebrate overcoming obstacles and be a symbol of hope for those beginning a new phase of life. Throughout the evening, each student will have their accomplishments highlighted, share their future plans, and each senior will honor an individual who has had a significant influence on their life and education.
In order to help equip the students for the next step in their education, please consider supporting each student by donating to their college readiness bundles. To contribute, please see Amazon Wish List that encompasses the items needed.
The evening is the perfect way to recognize the accomplishments of fifteen incredible students like Frishta.
Frishta meets Former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Photo: Adelina Trevino Bradshaw
Frishta was born in Afghanistan into an increasingly unstable environment. After fleeing war, sectarian violence, and Taliban rule, Frishta and her family were resettled by the IRC in Dallas in 2016. For Frishta, education was always a safe haven, and she consistently shows her determination to succeed academically despite the obstacles that have come her way. After arriving to the United States, she worked hard to learn English, skip a grade, and play in the marching band, all while working to support her family. In the summer of 2018, Frishta beat out hundreds of other DISD high school applicants to become the IRC’s Mayor’s Intern Fellow. Throughout the summer, she led monthly outreach sessions, interpreted for domestic violence prevention trainings, assisted in our Afghan women’s mental health groups, and wrote for our website. Even after her summer internship concluded, she was determined to continue educating her community about refugees. Over the course of this school year, Frishta led trainings and shared her story in venues such as Southern Methodist University and Eastside Community Church. Her continued efforts also helped her connect with important figures like the Honorable Madeleine Albright. As a result of Frishta’s meaningful work, she was recently awarded Princeton University’s Prize for Race Relations.
Frishta’s story, and those of the other graduates, are inspiring for their tenacity, dedication, and character. As each student embarks on their college journeys, please join us in celebrating their achievements and preparing them for their futures.
Should you have any questions about this event, the graduates, or how to get involved, please email [email protected].