Teen Creates Scholarship Honoring Gaza Physicist

When Celia Pesiri graduated from Los Alamos High School this year, she left behind more than memories. She created a scholarship honoring a friend thousands of miles away who transformed hardship into hope.

The Rawan Alsaraj Scholarship celebrates a Palestinian physicist in Gaza whose commitment to education never wavered, even through displacement and ongoing conflict. Despite the closure of schools due to violence, Alsaraj helped establish a community program providing math and science lessons to children.

Pesiri met Alsaraj through Tomorrow's Women's Gaza Girls Alumni Storytelling Project in June 2025. Their friendship grew despite language barriers, unreliable communication, and the challenges of war. "Our friendship taught me that sometimes simply listening and reminding someone they're not alone can mean more than anything else," Pesiri said.

The scholarship idea emerged during Pesiri's senior year. Her family funded the award, and she partnered with the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation to develop the criteria and selection process. Alsaraj even helped shape the scholarship by providing feedback on its goals and application materials.

The response exceeded expectations. Twenty-seven students applied for the inaugural award, which supports students pursuing STEM fields while promoting compassion and global understanding.

Jillian Lewis received the first Rawan Alsaraj Scholarship at the May 18 awards ceremony. She will attend Truman State University this fall in their direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. "I am truly grateful for your generosity and support," Lewis wrote to the scholarship committee.

The Ripple Effect

Pesiri served as a New Mexico Peace Ambassador with Tomorrow's Women, where her advocacy work led to her friendship with Alsaraj. The scholarship brings together her two passions: supporting women in STEM and advancing social justice.

The review committee included several women with STEM backgrounds, reflecting the scholarship's mission. "Rawan took a completely unfair situation and turned it into goodness," Pesiri said. "Despite everything she has endured, she continues to prioritize education by helping teach children in her community."

One teenager's friendship across continents now creates opportunities for students to pursue science while remembering that education thrives even in the darkest circumstances.