Afghan Refugee Named Top Scholar at Oregon University

A young woman who once couldn't find her place on campus will now stand at the podium as Eastern Oregon University's 2026 President's Scholar, the school's highest student honor.

Mohtarama "Mary" Qazizada fled Afghanistan in 2019 with her brother, spending nearly three years in Turkey before reaching the United States. When she arrived at EOU in fall 2022, language barriers made every conversation a struggle.

"I had a hard time finding my place here," Qazizada said. "I struggled with knowing a lot of social references and connecting with my peers."

Growing up in Afghanistan, she faced restricted opportunities because of her gender. Leadership roles were off limits. Making her own decisions wasn't allowed.

But at EOU, everything changed. Qazizada dove into the subjects that intimidated her most: mathematics and computer science.

"The fact that I am a math major and graduating with a math degree is surprising by itself," she said. "I never believed I would do it."

She completed two years of mathematical research, publishing two papers on "permuted sums," a branch of number theory with applications in cryptography. She tutored fellow students in math and computer science. She worked as a student software developer. And she maintained a 3.9 GPA through it all.

At one symposium presentation, so many classmates, professors, and friends showed up to support her that people sat on tables because the room ran out of chairs. That moment showed Qazizada what she'd built at EOU: a community.

Why This Inspires

Qazizada's story reminds us that belonging isn't found—it's built. She didn't wait for connections to appear. She showed up, worked hard, and let people see her effort.

"I don't think we can do everything by ourselves," she said. "Every person we interact with somehow impacts our lives. They are part of our success."

Now fluent in English, Persian, and Pashto, Qazizada plans to continue her education after graduation. She'll use her background in mathematics and technology to serve communities that need it most.

When she speaks at commencement, she wants struggling students to hear one message: patience and focus will lead you to where you belong.