Scholarships

2023 AACO Scholarship Program applications have closed. Thank you to everyone who applied. You will be notified soon of your application status.

Applications for the sixth annual Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship Program are closed. This year, we awarded $30,500 via 3 different scholarship opportunities available for eligible graduate, undergraduate, and vocational students,

Please see below for this year’s scholarships, a description of each, and eligibility requirements. For any other questions, please reference our FAQ page and feel free to contact us at operations@aa-co.org.

More information on scholarships for the 2024 cycle will be made available on this page later this year.

  • The Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship will be awarded to Afghan-American students who are engaged and committed to empowering the Afghan-American community and demonstrate financial need.

    Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship Eligibility

    • U.S. citizen, U.S. National, U.S. Permanent Resident with Green Card

    • Afghan-American

      • You were born in Afghanistan, one or both of your parents were born in Afghanistan, a grandparent or great-grandparent of yours was born in Afghanistan

    • Able to show proof of enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year in an educational or vocational institution

      • Undergraduate, graduate, and vocational school students are encouraged to apply

      • Unofficial transcripts are acceptable

      • Please include a transcript or proof of enrollment if you are in vocational school

    • Able to show proof of financial need and explain how educational goals will not be met without a scholarship

      • An institution financial aid award letter is required

      • Additional financial need documents are encouraged, such as tax returns, student account statements, and FAFSA award letters

    • Able to submit a detailed resume

    • Able to provide thoughtful and complete essay responses that detail academic and career goals as well as demonstrate exceptional commitment, creativity, and/or innovation in empowering the Afghan-American community

    • Be Scholarship Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 AACO Scholarship Program

      • Scholarship Ambassadors promote the AACO Scholarship Program and support scholarship fundraising efforts throughout the next academic year

  • The Sophia and Sabrina Scholarship was created in honor of the founders of the AACO Scholarship program. Their investment in the community is a testament to their belief in the diaspora, youth, and the power of education. This scholarship hopes to inspire and recognize Afghan women with similar aspirations to give back to the community.

    Sophia and Sabrina Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

    • Woman pursuing higher education

    • U.S. citizen, U.S. National, U.S. Permanent Resident with Green Card

    • Afghan-American

      • You were born in Afghanistan, one or both of your parents were born in Afghanistan, a grandparent or great-grandparent of yours was born in Afghanistan

    • Able to show proof of enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year in an educational or vocational institution

      • Undergraduate, graduate, and vocational school students are encouraged to apply

      • Unofficial transcripts are acceptable

      • Please include a transcript or proof of enrollment if you are in vocational school

    • Able to show proof of financial need

      • An institution financial aid award letter is required

      • Additional financial need documents are encouraged, such as tax returns, student account statements, and FAFSA award letters

    • Able to submit a detailed resume

    • Able to provide thoughtful and complete essay responses that demonstrate current impact and future plans to make an impact in the Afghan-American community or in Afghanistan.

    • Be Scholarship Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 AACO Scholarship Program

      • Scholarship Ambassadors promote the AACO Scholarship Program and support scholarship fundraising efforts throughout the next academic year

  • The Afghan-American STEM Scholarship was created to support Afghan-American students pursuing higher education in a STEM subject. By covering educational expenses, this scholarship will support the recipient in achieving their goals to positively impact and contribute to the Afghan community.

    Afghan-American STEM Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

    • Student pursuing higher education in a STEM subject

    • U.S. citizen, U.S. National, U.S. Permanent Resident with Green Card

    • Afghan-American

      • You were born in Afghanistan, one or both of your parents were born in Afghanistan, a grandparent or great-grandparent of yours was born in Afghanistan

    • Able to show proof of enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year in an educational or vocational institution

      • Undergraduate, graduate, and vocational school students are encouraged to apply

      • Unofficial transcripts are acceptable

      • Please include a transcript or proof of enrollment if you are in vocational school

    • Able to show proof of financial need

      • An institution financial aid award letter is required

      • Additional financial need documents are encouraged, such as tax returns, student account statements, and FAFSA award letters

    • Able to submit a detailed resume

    • Able to provide thoughtful and complete essay responses that demonstrate current impact and future plans to make an impact in the Afghan-American community or in Afghanistan.

    • Be Scholarship Ambassadors for the 2024-2025 AACO Scholarship Program

      • Scholarship Ambassadors promote the AACO Scholarship Program and support scholarship fundraising efforts throughout the next academic year

Since the scholarship program’s inception, we have awarded nearly $270,000 in scholarship funds to 54 recipients.

Established in 2018 in close collaboration with generous members of the community, the Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship Program supports undergraduate, graduate, and vocational students committed to the betterment of the Afghan-American community as well as those engaged in aid work within the community. AACO believes developing a strong scholarship program  is one of the most powerful ways to support, empower, and engage the next generation – to continue to build our legacy as a diaspora and to fulfill the dreams of our parents who sacrificed everything to dare to dream big in the face of failure. Scholarships specifically for fellow Afghan-Americans level the playing field by removing the financial burden of education and allow students to be focused purely on their academic pursuits. There are no other scholarship opportunities specifically for our diaspora. 

 
 

breakdown of past scholarships provided:

2023

  • Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship

The Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship, awarded $18,000 scholarships to 5 outstanding undergraduate and graduate Afghan-American students. 

  • Sophia and Sabrina Scholarship

The Sophia and Sabrina Scholarship was created in honor of the founders of the AACO Scholarship program and awarded $7,500 in scholarships to 2 outstanding Afghan-American women. 

  • Afghan-American STEM Scholarship

The Afghan-American STEM Scholarship, awarded to $5,000 to 1 outstanding Afghan-American STEM student. 

2022

  • Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship

The Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship, awarded $20,000 in scholarships to 7 outstanding undergraduate and graduate Afghan-American students. 

2021

  • Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship

    The Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship, generously funded by the Ishaq family, awarded $70,000 in scholarships to 15 outstanding undergraduate and graduate Afghan-American students. 

2020

  • Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship

    The Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship, generously funded by the Ishaq family, awarded $68,000 in scholarships to nine outstanding undergraduate and graduate Afghan-American students. 

2019

  • Ishaq Foundation Scholarship
    The Ishaq Foundation Scholarship, graciously funded by the Ishaq Foundation, awarded $25,000 in scholarships to five Afghan-American undergraduate students.

  • Afghan-American Community Organization Scholarship

    The Afghan-American Conference Scholarship awarded one $5,000 scholarship for an Afghan-American undergraduate or graduate student.

  • Afghan-American Conference Aid Work Stipend
    The Afghan-American Conference Aid Work Stipend awarded up to $2,500 for to an Afghan-American to conduct aid work prior to December 31, 2019.

2018

  • Ishaq Foundation Scholarship
    The Ishaq Foundation Scholarship, graciously funded by the Ishaq Foundation, awarded $10,000 for undergraduates attending the 2018 Afghan-American Conference.

  • Afghan-American Conference Scholarship
    The Afghan-American Conference Scholarship awarded $10,000 to Afghan-American undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Past recipients:

2022 Scholarship Recipients

2023 Scholarship Recipients

GRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Sana Alam

  • Ahmad Ahmadzada

  • Yagana Parwak

  • Atiqullah Hameedi

  • Saamia Haqiq

GRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Kawsar Nasir-Ahmad

  • Nahreen Aref

  • Mirvais Aminy

UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Fereshta Islamzada

  • Nijat Qazi

UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Alaha Nasari

  • Hadia Karzai

  • Medina Danish

  • Shabnum Hamidi

2021 Scholarship Recipients

UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Amber Afzali

  • Harris Ebrahim

  • Mariam Farzayee

  • Morvareed Ghafoori

  • Nilufar Kayhani

  • Safa Sultany

  • Sophia Sharifi

  • Yasmine Erbat

GRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Afifa Zaman

  • Alexander Nasserjah

  • Baktho Jan

  • Forogh Bashizada

  • Nazineen Kandahari

  • Sarah Faizy

  • Maywand Pohyar



2019 Scholarship Recipients

  • Zohrah Ahmadi

  • Saher Popal

  • Hamid Habibi

  • Salima Khan

  • Hanna Kherzai

  • Tahmina Naseri

  • Ahmad Amin



2020 Scholarship Recipients

UNDERGRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Elaha Noori

  • Lema Safi

  • Musa Quddus

  • Nadeema Safi

  • Sadef Osmanzai

GRADUATE RECIPIENTS

  • Sofia Schersei

  • Zohal Karimy

  • Ariana Mirzada

  • Osman Shokoor

2018 Scholarship Recipients

  • Susan Naseri

  • Dunia Azizi

  • Farzana Nawabi

  • Noah Sedique

  • Fara Arefi

  • Farishta Abbasi

  • Mursal Noory

  • Elias Kemal

Questions?

Please email us at operations@aa-co.org.