2011 HIAS Scholars
Elina Akselrud, NY
Sumy, Ukraine (2005)
Mannes College, Piano Performance
“When my family moved to the U.S., I entered a new stage of my life. On one hand, it is a land of opportunities and chances; on the other one, it takes an incredibly large amount of energy, patience, and nerves to get used to a new language, culture, traditions, and other things.” Read myStory >>
Yafa Balakhani, MD
Tehran, Iran (1992)
Towson University, Psychology/Sociology
“I attended an all girls school during the day, and in the evening I helped my mother. I was a very bright, intelligent student, and it was easy for me to obtain my high school diploma. Immediately after high school, I was married. Soon, I was busy building my family and taking care of them. When my third child was born, Khomeni came to power and life became very difficult.”
Victoriya Baratt, NY
Saratov, Russia (1994)
Stony Brook University, English/Psychology
“I spent the majority of my childhood watching my parents struggle to raise themselves on the socio-economic ladder and assimilate into the culture as best they could. Their determination in spite of hardship gave me the habits that now allow me to overcome obstacles as I work to get my undergraduate degree.” Read myStory >>
Yuliya Baratt, NY
Saratov, Russia (1994)
Jefferson School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy
“It is not enough to just provide translations of health forms. It is necessary to have information that is individualized to immigrant populations in more than just language, but also in approach.” Read myStory >>
Yelena Belorusets, NY
Belaya Tserkov, Ukraine (1994)
Stony Brook University, Biology/Sociology
“Unfortunately in immigrant communities, preventative care takes a back seat to the struggle of everyday life. Teens are left unsupervised as their parents work many hours to pay the bills. The lack of supervision gives many of them the opportunity to be irresponsible and develop poor sexual practices in addition to drug abuse. I want to learn from other scholars the practices they use to reach out to teens in their communities so that I can introduce them into my community.”
Nima Boostani, CA
Tehran, Iran (2005)
Santa Monica College, Psychology
“I realized that I could make a difference in people's lives and help them become more successful academically. In addition, I learned that their happiness and satisfaction makes me happy as well and I realized that I could do this (as a teacher).”
Babak Cohen, CA
Tehran, Iran (1999)
Medical College of Wisconsin, Medicine
“The effort I invested in school rewarded me with an admission to a university in applied physics at the age of 16. As part of the first generation in my family to go to college, I was proud of my achievement. Unfortunately, due to religious discrimination in Iran, my family decided to leave the country.”
Armen Davoudian, CA
Esfahan, Iran (2008)
University of California, Berkeley, English Literature
“I share the same somewhat poignant life-history as many other average immigrants: discriminated against in our homeland as cultural outsiders; the cup of tolerance filled up to and past its brim; the decision, the difficulties and challenges; and finally the execution of immigration. And so, finally, here we are in the U.S., immigrants of three years.”
Zhanna Digilova, NY
Nalchink, Russia (1999)
New York University, Economics/Politics
“I saw the buildings across the river in New Jersey, Staten Island and Brooklyn. This was the first time that I had glimpsed the Statue of Liberty. Although I was only nine, I was excited to see the statue as I was walking along the coast of a new city--I remember how excited I was to start my new life.” Read myStory >>
Igor Epshteyn, NY
Kuybishev, Russia (2003)
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Medicine
“I knew that medicine was my calling; however, in Russia I did not even attempt to enter medical school. I knew it was impossible because I was a Jew.” Read myStory >>
Golara Farnoosh, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2007)
University of California, Los Angeles, Pharmacy
“I gained a different perspective of life when I volunteered in a care center for mentally disabled Jewish children during the summer of 2009. I have come to realize that I am not the only one dealing with problems and difficulties in life.”
Soroush Farnoosh, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2007)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychobiology
“We were promised the greatest opportunities and success. Everyone just seemed to be sure about their future and ours. But then, in a few months, even the most optimistic ones lost their job or home.”
Yakov Fattakhov, NY
Kairakkum, Tajikistan (1992)
Touro College, Pharmacy
“Public health is an important part of Touro College of Pharmacy, the school which I attend. We participate in different public health activities in the Harlem community in order to lessen health disparities within New York City… It made me feel really good about making a difference in the lives of people.”
Read myStory >>
Diana Fridlyand, GA
Minsk, Belarus (1993)
Emory University, Biology/Chemistry
“The families of my great-grandparents perished during the war. My grandparents faced starvation, my parents anti-Semitism. Upon emigration, everyone faced unertainty. HIAS assisted my family in facing uncertainty and realizing our full [potential].” Read myStory >>
Svetlana Gitman, IL
Kharkov, Ukraine (1993)
The John Marshall Law School, Law
“[My grandparents] were blatantly told that being Jewish disqualified them from admission [to medical school in the former Soviet Union]. My grandfather used to tell me how he used to make money after World War II by taking medical school admission tests for people and scoring well enough to guarantee them entrance.” Read myStory >>
Daniel Golchian, CA
Tehran, Iran (2005)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology
“As an immigrant, I had to learn first German and then English as my third language and at the same time, due to my father's ailment, I had the burden of supporting my family. These challenges consumed much of my time and attention; however, they never caused me to lower my expectations of myself.”
Robert Goldberg, NJ
Moscow, Russia (2008)
Ramapo College, Biology
“HIAS helped me immigrate to my new home and afterwards supported me in a variety of important ways, including financially. Receiving the HIAS 2010 Scholarship was crucial to me and my education, for I was able to pay off a part of my huge loans, take the [expensive] MCAT and finally apply to a medical school in order to continue the medical education that had been interrupted by immigration.” Read myStory >>
Ely Grinvald, CA
St. Petersburg, Russia (1995)
Southwestern Law School, Law
“I volunteer for Public Counsel, which is a pro bono law firm that provides free legal services to low-income residents of Los Angeles County. Most people I talk to are immigrants and many speak little, if any, English. Nearly everyone I have interviewed to date has been taken advantage of in some way.” Read myStory >>
Bonny Hakimirad, CA
Tehran, Iran (2003)
New York University College of Dentistry, Dentistry
“I feel it is important to establish a community service project to educate immigrants about the rights and resources available to them, including various government services. I believe it would be crucial to provide information on attaining an education and learning the English language so new immigrants may acclimate quicker to the challenges they face.”
Simon Hanukai, NY
Moscow, Russia (1990)
Columbia University, Theater
“An issue that I believe affects immigrants, and especially children of immigrants, is the feeling of not belonging to the society that they are currently living in. This is something that I know from personal experience, as well as through working with a number of immigrant youth in Oakland, California.”
Houman Harouni, MA
Tehran, Iran (1997)
Harvard School of Education, Community, Culture and Education
“What the Bible refers to as 'the soul', and today we understand as the depth of identity, comes from having had the opportunity to connect deeply with the world and one's heritage within it.”
Natasha Ivanova, NY
Moscow Russia (2001)
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Medicine
“I have developed English/Russian bi-lingual booklets about the most common health problems in the Jewish population in the U.S. Emphasizing prevention, health resources and health education, these booklets received great support from the Jewish community in Brooklyn.” Read myStory >>
Aleksandr Khaitov, NY
Moscow, Russia (1999)
St. John’s University, Pharmacy
“The [academic] subjects are extremely hard and draining. However, they have to be. The health care of a generation is placed in our hands.”
Alena Kharlamenko, MI
Chisinau, Moldova (1996)
Western Michigan University, Dietetics/Dance
“To avoid the incessant persecution of Jewish individuals, my family made the ultimate decision to emigrate from Chisinau, Moldova to the U.S. in 1996. Six years old at the time, I did not understand the reasons for this decision nor the implications it would have on my life, but I had faith my parents were doing what was best for our family, particularly for me and my future.” Read myStory >>
Edward Kogan, PA
Moscow, Russia (1992)
Harvard University, Mollecular and Cellular Biology
“Since all of my relatives are in Moscow, I had very little guidance and had to figure out the system by myself. However difficult it was for me, I want to share that knowledge so that future generations have an easier time.”
Read myStory >>
Sanaz Malkoukian, NY
Tehran, Iran (1994)
Touro College, Special Education
“My parents were worried that I would forget our Jewish heritage, as the Iranian government disallows the existence of Jewish schools. My parents realized that there would be no future for me in that country. They were determined for me to receive a proper education so that I can pursue a degree. Therefore, they decided to flee to America.”
Nataliya Mar, NY
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1995)
Lenox Hill Hospital Internal Medicine Residency, Internal Medicine
“The key step in our transformation from resident to doctor requires a shift in our perspective. It involves learning to view patients as more than a particular organ system, and to look beyond their disease.”
Read myStory >>
Rona Mehrabi, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2004)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology
“My hardships in life helped me to develop greater human understanding and compassion. I often find myself in a supportive role, trying to make life a little easier for others.”
David Mirakhor, CA
Tehran, Iran (2002)
Santa Monica College, Pre-Chiropractic
“Challenges keep coming my way and they continue to appear, but I have not lost hope and have learned to keep going not only to reach my dreams but to allow myself to see that my parents' lifelong sacrifices paid off.”
Ebrahim Mirakhor, CA
Tehran, Iran (2002)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychobiology/Neuroscience
“By working hard and devoting countless hours to studying I have managed to bring myself to a point that I can gain some personal satisfaction.”
Treza Mirakhor, CA
Tehran, Iran (2002)
California State University, Northridge, Marriage and Family Therapy
“I believe the greatest assistance we can provide for immigrants is to develop facilities where people can get the advice they need, the sympathy family members cannot give them, and help to understand that the future is as bright as it ever was.”
Milana Murdakhayeva, NY
Panshembe, Uzbekistan (1993)
Arnold and Marie Schwarts College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy
“I am so grateful and honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Olhausen Graduate Scholarship. This Scholarship will greatly impact my life in such a positive way.”
Liura Nakhon, NY
Shiraz, Iran (2008)
Touro College, Science
“When I heard about the HIAS scholarship program, I began to hope that HIAS could help me again in life. In winning a HIAS Scholarship…I could continue my education and be less concerned about expenses for my child.”
Oksana Natanelova, NY
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1993)
Yeshiva University, Optometry
“Although we arrived to a strange new country virtually penniless, we were happy to be in the U.S., the glorious land of opportunity. However my family continues to struggle and bears a difficult financial burden at home. When it came time for me to pursue a higher education, HIAS came through for me, once again.”
Polina Natanelova, NY
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1993)
Queens College, Psychology
“Upon becoming a HIAS scholar for the first time, I attended the awards ceremony, where I met with the beneficent donors, HIAS staff, and other worthy scholarship awardees. The sense of unity on that day was tangible. I felt the HIAS family as one.” Read myStory >>
Bahieh Nayeri, CA
Tehran, Iran (2001)
Pierce College, Child Development
“It is my dream, through networking with other HIAS members, to find refugee children who have mental or physical problems and help them in any way I can.”
Pouria Norasteh, MD
Tehran, Iran (2006)
University of Maryland, Information Science
“I believe I have a duty to the country that welcomed me and that gave me the opportunity to get a higher education.”
Zhanar Ospanova, OR
Shimkent, Kazakhstan (2005)
Portland State University, Human Resources Management
“My dream after obtaining my bachelor's degree in International Studies is to begin a career as an immigration officer, a career that will enable me to understand immigration laws that will help immigrants start new lives in the U.S.”
Read myStory >>
Elnaz Panbechi, CA
Tehran, Iran (2000)
Western University of Health Services, Pharmacy
“Fleeing the Iranian anti-woman society revolutionized my life and was a stepping stone to strengthening my dream of creating a difference in the lives of immigrants who have been denied the right to receive adequate medical care.”
Iman Rabizadeh, CA
Shiraz, Iran (1994)
University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Medicine
“Working with the HIAS network I hope to build on my leadership and team work skills. I also hope that with the combination of increasing knowledge and [being a member of a] community geared towards service I will be able to bring positive change to others.”
Magda Rizer, NY
Moscow, Russia (1992)
New York School of Osteopathic Medicine, Medicine
“I have seen first-hand the effects of flawed nutritional beliefs held by immigrants, specifically those of Jewish-Russian descent. Their lack of nutritional education shocked me, especially when I witnessed their health deteriorate because of their refusal to change their traditional diets. Because of this, I feel that there needs to be a nutritious food bank supplemented by a nutrition program for immigrants.” Read myStory >>
Inna Shats, NY
Kharkov, Ukraine (1998)
New York University, Early Childhood Education
“When society begins to build barriers around the oppressed, it is our job, as the oppressed, to teach the oppressors that not only can we exceed their expectations, rather, we can make something wonderful out of life's troubles.” Read myStory >>
Ruben Shimonov, WA
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1993)
Brandeis University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
“I am committed to obtaining a Ph.D. and becoming a professor of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies so that I can help push these fields forward. Combining scholarly expertise, a dedication to community leadership, and a deeply rooted understanding of my distinct background, I will be well equipped to engage people within and outside the academic sphere. As I progress onto the next step in my personal and professional growth, it is an honor to be obtaining support from HIAS—an organization that has continually played a crucial role in the trajectory of my life. I am proud that my relationship with HIAS has only blossomed with time.”
Pejman Simanian, OR
Tehran, Iran (1989)
Pacific University, Pharmacy
“The HIAS Scholarship will enable me to purchase a laptop which I desperately need and to also be able to participate in pharmacy related professional organizations.”
Sorayya Tabrizi, WA
Tehran, Iran (2007)
Bellevue College, Nursing
“The Iranian government does not allow Baha'i students to attend university, apply for government jobs or practice their religion freely. I was discriminated against and was denied a higher education. My determination to get an education on one hand, and my talent and intelligence on the other, made my parents send me to a language school to learn English. After two years of learning English, I decided to make my dream a reality.”
Eleonora Tamayeva, NY
Bukhara, Uzbekistan (1994)
SUNY College of Optometry, Optometry
“I came from a country with limited opportunities and minimal emphasis on importance of eye care. Many children are frequently mislabeled with 'disorders' such as ADD and slow processors where in reality their true handicap is their visual system. Providing free vision screenings made me realize that the majority of children and even adults who go without ever receiving vision examinations tend to be immigrants.”
Sohrab Tofigh, GA
Tehran, Iran (2002)
University of Hawaii, Medicine
“Within the next eight years [after immigration], I learned my third language (English) and graduated as valedictorian of my college class with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and a 4.0 GPA.”
Simona Tsipan, CA
St. Petersburg, Russia (1991)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology
“Remembering the obstacles I had faced as a child of immigrant parents, I have become involved in UCLA’s Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), providing academic advising, mentoring, and tutoring to disadvantaged high school students, many of them with limited English skills.” Read myStory >>
Gregory Witkin, NY
Moscow, Russia (1994)
Brooklyn College, Pre-Medical
“Immigrants don't expect to have to give up their identity in order to succeed. What's wrong with being a successful Jew? Why do Jewish immigrants sometimes have to take on a new 'American' identity in order to be successful? I believe that it is important to preserve an immigrant’s past and culture.”
Read myStory >>
Dorna Yaghoobzadeh, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2001)
University of College, Los Angeles, Psychology
“I have been involved with helping immigrants since I was in high school when I started a club that enabled successful students to assist those new to this country, helping them adapt to a new school and a new world. The club was called ‘Helping the New’.”
Youna Yaghoobzadeh, CA
Tehran, Iran (2001)
Pierce College, Psychology
“I started my own program called “Feeding the Needy” that raises money for food for immigrants that do not have enough money to bring lunch to school or to buy lunch. Sometimes families, who were once immigrants and knew how it felt, donate money or offer to buy lunch for the immigrant students for a week. I have learned just how many immigrant students with financial problems we have.”
Yousha Yaghoobzadeh, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2001)
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Medicine
“As an immigrant, I've seen first-hand what it is like to be sick, not know where to go, and not have the money to pay for my medicine. This is why I was determined to continue my services to the immigrant and low-income families of the Bronx. I joined the Board of Einstein Community Health Outreach Clinic as the fundraiser co-chair to support our free clinic.”
Yulianna Yagoudaeva, NY
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (1994)
Queens College, Political Science
“I was an active member of Mock Trial, Moot Court and We The People Constitution programs...I boasted an extremely high average, was placed on the dean's honor roll, designated a National Scholar, and acquired many other prestigious awards. But my life was missing an element which cannot be named, but rather expressed as a zeal to give back to my community....”
Read myStory >>
Juliette Yedimenko, OH
Zaporozhye, Ukraine (1996)
Ohio State University School of Medicine, Medicine
“I am conducting valuable neuroscience research on the control of voluntary movement. Working with our handicapped subjects forever changed my view of people with physical disabilities. I realized that many of them are very strong-willed, independent individuals, from whom we can all take an example.” Read myStory >>
Golnaz Yeroushalmi, CA
Tehran, Iran (2005)
University of California, Los Angeles, Dentistry
“As a high school graduate in Iran, I scored in the 0.02% on the national university admission exam. Unfortunately, religious discrimination in Iran led my family to emigrate and forced me to abandon my education [there].”
Monica Yeroushalmi, CA
Tehran, Iran (2003)
Santa Monica College, Psychobiology
“Eight years ago, when HIAS extended its assistance to me, it took me in like a family member. Like family, HIAS remained by my side and continue to provide me with security. With the help of HIAS I was able to pursue my career goals… I am confident that I will be giving back to the community later in my life.”
Omid Yousefian, CA
Tehran, Iran (2006)
University of California, Los Angeles, Psychobiology
“I have been working with one of the Iranian radio stations in Los Angeles since January 2008, teaching computer basics to the Iranian middle-aged and elderly.”
Farnad Zaghi, NY
Shiraz, Iran (2007)
Columbia University, Biotechnology
“As a child, our family trips to Tehran always excited me. In awe of the large and complex buildings, I dreamed of building an intricate and marvelous edifice... It was in my second year of university when everything changed. As I was completely engrossed in designing a model bridge ... I realized that living in Iran was no longer an option for me.”
Soheil Zafarmehr, CA
Shiraz, Iran (2004)
Roseman University of Health Sciences, Pharmacy
“My greatest strength is that I welcome challenges and cope with them by drawing on all of my personal resources.”
