Real Life Scholarship 2026 Winner Bios
- Real Life Team
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
HSER KUE
Hser Kue was born in Ban Ma Lak (Mae La) refugee camp in Thailand. Her parents had fled Burma to escape the violence against the Karen people and raised their family in the refugee camp before being resettled in Utah. Attending school in English and being immersed in a new culture were challenges for Hser Kue growing up, but as other Karen families moved to Utah, she helped them with their English and assisted them in adjusting to their new lives. She was inspired by her family’s social worker, Hla Wei, who works so hard to help families, and she aims to become a social worker herself so she can support other families in the same way. Hser Kue is a senior at Utah International Charter School and will be attending Salt Lake Community College after she graduates. Her goal is not only to become a social worker but also to support her family, who have given her so much.
SOHEIL NAZAR MOHAMMAD
Soheil Nazar Mohammad was born in Afghanistan and traveled to Turkey with his family as a child. He enjoyed math classes at school in Turkey and has always been fascinated by finding out how things work. Soheil began working at a young age to support his family and aims to earn a college degree to continue helping them. He is a Senior at Utah International Charter School and has already begun taking college classes. He will be attending the University of Utah this summer to study engineering. His goal is to one day become an engineer or a pilot and to help make the lives of the people around him easier. Service is very important to Soheil, and he believes that your good deeds towards others come back to honor you.
MLENDJA ABABELE
Mlendja Ababele was born in a Congolese family in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania. He lived in the refugee camp until he was sixteen, and he enjoyed learning about leadership and the importance of selflessness while growing up there. After resettling in the United States, Mlendja began attending school in a new language and has worked hard to excel academically while also supporting his family. He will be graduating from Utah International Charter School this year and will begin attending Salt Lake Community College this Summer. He believes that education is the key to success in life. Mlendja’s goal is to use his education to create positive opportunities for others, especially those who have faced challenges similar to those he and his family have faced.
LEA ABABELA
Lea Ababele was born in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania after her parents fled from war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She enjoyed learning how to read and write in the refugee camp, but knew that she wouldn’t be able to pursue her dreams there. Since resettling in the United States, Lea has worked hard in school so that she can one day achieve her dream of beginning a career in the medical field. She will be graduating from Utah International Charter School this year and will begin attending Salt Lake Community College this year. Lea’s goal is to become a nurse so that she can help people who are suffering and going through hard things. She wants to be a positive example for other women so they can see what they are capable of.
JEAN-MICHEL DIEUMERCI
Jean-Michel Dieumerci was born into a Congolese family in Burundi, and even though access to education was not always guaranteed, he saw school as a place of hope and a way to escape limitations. After resettling in the United States, he faced challenges with learning a new language and adapting to a new school system and culture, but he chose to work hard and prioritize his education. After he graduates from Utah International Charter School, Jean-Michel will attend Salt Lake Community College, where he will study Computer Engineering. He wants to use technology to solve real-world problems and aims to earn an MBA to further develop his skills in innovation. Jean-Michel’s goal is to use his education to give back to his family, support them, and inspire other students to know that no matter where you’re from, success is possible with determination and hard work.
AZHARUDDIN ATTAYE
Azharuddin Attaye was born and raised in Afghanistan. He grew up believing that education is the key to building a better future, but had to stop attending school after the Taliban took control. Azharuddin fled to Qatar with his family, where they lived in a refugee camp before resettling in the United States. He had been out of school for nearly two years when he started attending school in America, and had to adapt to his new learning environment in a language he was still learning. Azharuddin has prioritized his education and not only enrolled in concurrent college courses but also participated in a debate on the University of Utah campus. Debating in English was a huge milestone for him and showed him how far he has come. After graduating from Utah International Charter School, Azharuddin will attend Salt Lake Community College this fall and aims to work in a field where he can help and serve others.
MONGA MSAFIRI
Monga Msafiri was born in Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania after his parents fled from war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He grew up in a large family where his parents often sacrificed their own needs to provide for their children. He learned to read and write French from volunteers in the refugee camp, but his older brothers had to leave school to support the family after their father passed away. The sacrifice that his brothers made deeply motivated Monga to take his education seriously. This year, he will be graduating from Utah International Charter School, where he has worked hard in his classes while also supporting his family. Monga will attend Salt Lake Community College after graduation and study business and accounting. His goal is to give back to his community by helping others with their finances and teaching how to budget.
NADIA IRAKOZE
Nadia Irakoze was born in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania; her parents had fled to Tanzania from Burundi. Shortly after resettling in Utah in 2015, Nadia’s father passed away from cancer that wasn’t able to be diagnosed until after they came to the U.S. Even though she is still in high school, she works part-time and takes college classes to ease the financial strain placed on her mother and her brother, who works. After graduating from Utah International Charter School this year, Nadia will attend the University of Utah, where she plans to study medicine or social work so she can help families like hers access the medical care and support they weren’t able to obtain. Her drive and enthusiasm for learning have enabled her to become fluent in English and to help her fellow students.
ANUSHIYA ARUMUGARASA
Anushiya Arumugarasa was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Thailand when she was six months old. She was able to attend school in Thailand but struggled with the language barrier. After resettling in the United States, Anushiya faced similar challenges due to linguistic and cultural barriers at school, working hard to adapt to her new circumstances. Her resiliency has enabled her to succeed academically and has inspired her to give back to her community. Anushiya graduated from Olympus High School in 2024 and is currently a student at the University of Utah where she is majoring in Business. While living in Thailand, her parents made many sacrifices for their children, and Anushiya hopes to make them proud by becoming the first woman in her family to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree.
BENAZIR MOHAMMADI
Benazir Mohammadi was born in Takhar, Afghanistan, and lived in Kabul before her family fled to America. Benazir has always valued education and was forced to stop attending school after the Taliban took control. After beginning school in Utah, she skipped a grade and worked hard to take advantage of the opportunities education offers. Art is very important to Benazir; she began drawing as a child in Afghanistan and would help her friends with their drawings. Drawing and art have become a cherished outlet for her; she helps the after-school fashion design club at Utah International Charter School put on an annual fashion show and dreams of becoming an art teacher. Benazir’s goal is to become a role model for other young women who have faced limitations and to teach them art as a creative tool to overcome trauma. She will be attending the University of Utah after her graduation.
Jemima Mukambilwa was born in Rwanda to Congolese refugee parents, and she credits her resilience to her experience as a refugee. After resettling in the United States, Jemima had to adjust to a new country and language and rebuild her life, but she remained determined to succeed. During her high school career, she enjoyed math and science classes and participated in coding clubs and competitions. She is not only driven by her studies but also works to support her family financially. Jemima is now studying computer engineering at Salt Lake Community College and looks forward to using her knowledge to help others and contribute to positive change in the world around her.
LUIS MENDEZ FIGUEROA
Luis Mendez Figueroa was raised by parents who immigrated from Guatemala. The challenges his parents faced due to cultural and language barriers inspired him and taught him the value of hard work. Luis participated in various service opportunities throughout his teens, including a police department program where he learned more and gained connections to support him in fulfilling his dream of becoming a law enforcement officer. Luis aims to build bridges between his community and law enforcement and to be a force for good. He graduated from Olympus High School in 2024 and is currently a first-generation student, attending the University of Utah while also taking online classes at SLCC, searching for a job, and caring for his younger sister.
ROMISHA ADHIKARI
Romisha Adhikari was born in a village in Nepal where access to medical resources was scarce. Learning of her mother’s dangerous journey to receive a safe C-section in Nepal sparked a desire to work in healthcare. Her family came to the United States in 2017, and seeing the number of hospitals in Utah shocked her. She goes out of her way to excel in her studies and seeks opportunities to position herself for success in healthcare fields. As part of a CNA class, Romisha helped CNAs at a rehabilitation center. The experience of connecting with patients while gaining CNA experience had a lasting impact on her. She will graduate from Olympus High School this year and attend the University of Utah, where she plans to study nursing. Her dream is to one day help build stronger medical infrastructures in places like Nepal and to raise awareness of safe medical practices through connection and education.
CHRISTINA SAY
Christina Say was born in a refugee camp in Thailand in a Karen family who had fled from Burma. She was eight years old when her family came to Salt Lake City. She was amazed by the comforts of her new home, but felt trapped by the language barrier. Christina worked hard to become fluent in English as soon as she could and used her language skills to translate for her parents. She was inspired by the determination of a church youth leader who was also Karen and had to learn English after coming to America. That leader was able to attend college, and her example has inspired Christina to never give up on her studies or dreams. She will be graduating from Highland High School and attending Salt Lake Community College this fall, and her goal is to study civil engineering and to one day create beautiful buildings inspired by her life in Thailand. Her dream is to return to Thailand to help refugee families build their homes and give them a place to go, so they know they are not alone.
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