The Students of Salaam
Immigrant Student Scholarship
Did you know?
Immigrant students in the US are less than half as likely to attend college as their US-born counterparts. Only 5% of undocumented and 15% of documented high school graduates enroll in post-secondary education, versus 30% of US-born students.
Scroll to learn about our scholarship, and meet the winners to date!
Our Story
The Students of Salaam (SOS) Immigrant Student Scholarship Fund launched in 2018 to support the academic and professional goals of immigrant students, regardless of citizenship status, through personalized mentorship and financial assistance. Read more about SOS.
Growth to Date
Despite a small operating budget, we’ve seen a 5x growth in applicants since 2019, underscoring the urgent need for resources to support immigrants pursuing higher education. In total, we’ve supported three students in their journey from high school to college.
Our applicants have roots across the globe …
… and homes across the United States
Meet the S.O.S. Scholars
CLASS OF 2021
WAHIDA HAMDARD
My name is Wahida Hamdard and I will be attending San Diego State University this fall, majoring in International Studies and Conflict Resolution. Hopefully, with a degree from ISCOR Major, I will be able to work with the United Nations and through that position be a voice of those whose voices are stolen. As a young Afghan girl, my ultimate goal in life is to advocate for women rights and make a positive difference in the world for women. As a refugee, I have always encountered financial difficulties in life. But, thank you to SOS, I will be attending college with less stress and more excitement to achieve my dreams.
ARELY FLORES
My name is Arely Flores and I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin where I will be seeking a major in International Relations and Global Studies. Thanks to SOS, I will be able to pursue a higher education, as I believe that everyone should have the equal opportunity to learn. It doesn't matter what your race, ethnicity, nationality, or background is, everyone has a right to a fair education. I hope to keep advocating and providing a safe space for those who are found in a similar situation like mine. Aside from my studies, I like to participate in theatre productions.
MOHAMMAD SHAYAN KHAN
I am a computer science major at Harper College. When I’m not busy with school I work as a part-time coding instructor or diving neck-deep into projects working as a part-time web developer. SOS has afforded me a fantastic opportunity to pursue my degree and build on my existing skills, which allow me to work as a software engineer after graduation and put me in a position to make a significant difference in my community. - Shayan
JULIANE VICTOLERO
Juliane is an incoming freshman at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Materials Science. Moving from the Philippines to New Jersey and lastly settling in California, she calls many places her home. As an SOS scholar, she hopes to take advantage of the mentorship program to guide her as she spends the next few years in college exploring the nearly infinite opportunities in STEM.
SYEDA SADIA
My name is Syeda, and I hope to pursue Political Science with a focus on International Relations at Barnard College. As an SOS Scholar, I hope to strive in my educational career with my identities as a first generation immigrant being a strength rather than a hindrance.
CLASS OF 2020
MARIE GAYE
Marie is attending Howard University and majoring in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biotechnology and Biomedicine. She plans on attending medical school after graduation. She is currently working to find cures for chronic illness through comparison research of molecular structures. She will work in coalition with the people in camp Bidi Bidi in Uganda. Born as a refugee, Marie also advocates for humanizing and nuanced narratives of refugees.
CRISTIAN LOPEZ
Cristian is attending the University of Houston and majoring in engineering. He is excited about the learning experience his engineering field will bring; he takes leadership seriously and hopes to start his own business. Cristian believes in fair access to quality education for the most vulnerable immigrant communities. He wants to do all he can to bring value to his community — he also likes his coffee strong & bold.
CLASS OF 2019
ANDRES FERRER
“I love art, so I decided to pursue graphic design and illustration. I moved here from Venezuela in 2017. Just like SOS, I value education a lot. As immigrants, we are not expected to succeed. That's why I am so grateful for being given this opportunity, to promote education and prove to my community that everything is possible. I would like to use my art as a way of expression to bring people together and promote a healthy, tolerant and inclusive environment.”
-Andres, majoring in Visual Arts/Graphic Design at Salt Lake Community College
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Join us in creating a world where higher education is accessible for all, regardless of citizenship status.