Celebrating 11 Years of Scholarship and Success!
Founded in 2015, The Banyan Scholarship has proudly supported the dreams of 44 students, empowering them to achieve academic excellence. As we celebrate our 11th anniversary in 2026, we look forward to continuing our mission of transforming lives and building brighter futures for years to come.
BANYAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR SOUTH ASIAN AMERICANS
2026 BANYAN SCHOLARS
LHAZEN TSHOMO
Lhazen was born in Bhutan and grew up between Nepal and New York City. Moving between different places and cultures from a young age made her curious about people, their stories, and the ways our backgrounds shape how we see the world. In high school, she explored these interests through Bhutanese dance, community service, and leadership, including volunteering with younger Bhutanese children. She also found herself drawn to biology and psychology, especially genetics and the questions it raises about both science and the people behind it. She is an incoming freshman at Brandeis University, where she plans to study Biology and Psychology and hopes to eventually pursue genetic counseling. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, dancing, cooking, graphic design, and spending time with her friends and family.
JASMAN MULTANI
Jasman Multani grew up in South Ozone Park, Queens, and her family is from Punjab, India. She graduated from QHSS and will attend Barnard College as a freshman studying Economics. In high school, she served as Vice President of her Women’s Empowerment Club and competed in Science Olympiad and Varsity Badminton. Wanting to learn beyond the classroom, Jasman pursued various competitive programs, including Seeds of Fortune, where she developed and launched Reverie, a sustainable fashion startup. She was named a Top 10 finalist after pitching Reverie at BMO Capital Markets and was chosen to present at the 10X Pitch Off in Miami through the Grant Cardone Foundation. At Barnard, she hopes to pursue a career in finance, eventually earn an MBA, explore the intersection of fashion and business, and connect with other South Asian students across Barnard and Columbia.
PHURBU SHERPA
Phurbu whose family is from Nepal was raised in Queens, New York. She recently graduated from Bard High School Early College Queens earning her an AA in Liberal Studies alongside high school diploma. This fall she will study Civil Engineering at Vanderbilt University. She wants to learn techniques specific to Civil E and use it when creating infrastructures in places where it is surely needed. During high school she worked as an Explainer at the New York Hall of Science teaching visitors science concepts and activities. She also participated in SPREP at Columbia University and Thrive Scholars, studying science and calculus. Phurbu also performed reading Tibetan scriptures from her time at the Sherwi Rikshung Lopta Center by United Sherpa Association. Being a part of these programs helped her tremendously as a first generation student to meet new people and try new things. After college she plans to work at an engineering form and in investment at Primerica. She wants to serve under-served communities and help improve the lives of many around the world.
JAMAN MAHAMUD
Jaman is a Bangladeshi-American from the Bronx, New York, and an incoming freshman at Columbia University, where he plans to study Biology on the pre-medical track. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. Passionate about medicine, Jaman has worked in an ER and patient relations at Jacobi Hospital and conducted chromatin-remodelling cancer and apoptosis-related diabetes research at Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University. Beyond research, Jaman co-founded a student-led initiative creating free 3D-printed upper-limb prosthetics for underserved communities in Ecuador and Guatemala. In his free time, Jaman enjoys weightlifting, playing soccer, flying kites, debating with friends, and watching Bollywood movies with his family. At Columbia, he hopes to continue clinical work and eventually pursue a career as a cardiologist.
ADIYA MALHOTRA
Adiya Malhotra is a freshman at American University. She graduated from Riverdale Country School as a full-scholarship student in 2026, and spent 2025 at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg as a SEGL scholar. At American, she serves as Secretary of the Sikh Student Association while double majoring in astrophysics and political science. Adiya is a published poet, two-time Scholastic Gold Key recipient, and finalist for the 2026 NYC Youth Poet Laureate. As a disabled athlete, Adiya is passionate about advocating for greater visibility and accessibility in sports. She is a member of Achilles International, a community supporting disabled triathletes, where she runs marathons and races. Outside of writing and activism, Adiya has been a competitive Bhangra dancer for three years and is happiest when she is dancing, scuba diving, exploring the ocean, learning a new language, or listening to reggae. She hopes to continue bringing together her passions for art and politics to create meaningful change.