BANYAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOUTH ASIAN AMERICANS
2024 BANYAN SCHOLARS
AFRA MASUD
Afra Masud has always loved the beauty and diversity of her home, Queens, New York City, and is proud to call it home. Born and raised in Jackson Heights, she is a proud Muslim, Bangladeshi American and doesn’t let her Osteogenesis Imperfecta stop her from living her life. She is currently a freshman at Adelphi University, studying Communications with a concentration in journalism. At Adelphi, Afra is the founder of Adelphi’s Henna Club, and works as an Event Assistant for the Admissions teams. She has always been incline to stories of trauma, resilience, hope and love, and wants to someday write these stories for people to read in the form of novels and short stories. She dreams of traveling the world, being surrounded by knowledge for the rest of her life, being an bestselling author, and living her best life. In her free time, you can find Afra reading or writing something on her phone or laptop, watching documentaries and travel videos, doing henna, hanging out with her friends, and spending time with her family.
HINDANI PATEL
Hindani was born and raised in Queens and Brooklyn by a family of immigrants from India. They graduated from New Explorations into Science Technology and Math with an Advanced Regents Diploma. She was and continues to be involved with mutual aid work, community organizing and activism. He is currently studying Environmental Engineering and Political Science at Yale College. Outside of academics, they are learning pottery, doing community organizing and reading people's favorite books. She is working towards becoming a union, environmental or human rights lawyer.
BISHESH SHAH
Bishesh, whose family immigrated from Nepal, was raised in Queens, NY. He attended Stuyvesant High School, where he continued to establish his passion for engineering, community-building, and environmentalism through his various extracurriculars. During high school, Bishesh was a Big-Sib Chair (head of the freshman-oriented mentorship program), President of StuyBolly, a board member for the Stuyvesant Environmental Club, and a member of ACE Mentoring. Additionally, he has been fortunate enough to travel to various places (France and Hawaii) through summer study abroad programs, all on full scholarships, which has greatly shaped him into who he is today. Currently, he is studying Chemical Engineering at Stony Brook University with a 1-year transfer to Cornell University for Environmental Engineering, which he is planning to pursue. In the future, he hopes to work in renewable energy or water filtration, as he has seen firsthand the need for these industries. Outside of academics, he can be found dancing to various Bollywood songs, going on runs with friends, and talking to new people.
HARKIRAN SAHANSRA
Harkiran was raised in New York City and enjoys swimming, public speaking, playing the harmonium, but above all, serving her community through Seva. Furthermore, Harkiran likes to go to the Gurdwara because people of all backgrounds, races, and castes are welcome and she is eager to get to know and interact with them. Harkiran is a proud alumna of Francis Lewis High School where she was inspired by her teachers and peers alike. They will always hold a special place in
her heart. She was the President of the United Sikhs’ Association and South Asian Student
Association as well as a Staff Sergeant in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Her hardwork and dedication was rewarded when she was inducted into the National Honor Society and received the Certificate of Merit for her AP Research Paper. As of now, Harkiran is a student at Hofstra where she is studying Political Science. She believes the world is her oyster and will keep an optimistic attitude no matter where life takes her.
MASHAL SHAHID
Mashal was born in Pakistan and raised in Queens, New York. Graduating as valedictorian of her class at Hillcrest High School, she served as Sophomore Class President, editor-in-chief of the Yearbook Club, and assistant to the Pre-Med Director; where she organized events from Spring Fests to STEM training programs. Her extracurricular achievements include participating in NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s STEP program, MedDOCs at Mount Sinai Hospital, competing in research competitions, and volunteering at her local community hospital. She was also a part of her school’s gymnastics team. Now a first-year on the Pre-Med track at Yale University, Mashal continues to pursue her goals towards medical school. Outside the classroom, she is involved with Yale Jashan Bhangra and the Yale Undergraduate Research Association. In her free time, she enjoys reading classic literature, scrapbooking, and exploring cafes.