New Hyde Park, N.Y., High School Graduate Wins Robert G. Porter Scholarship

CHICAGO – Sheila Firoozan, a 2008 graduate of Herricks High School in New Hyde Park, N.Y., is one of four highly accomplished high school graduates to receive the Robert G. Porter Scholarship awarded by the American Federation of Teachers.

Each year, the AFT presents an $8,000 scholarship to each of four outstanding high school seniors who are the children of AFT members. Recipients must show outstanding service to their community and plan to pursue a career in labor, education, health or government service. The AFT will recognize the recipients during the union’s biennial national convention, held July 11-14 in Chicago.

In addition to excelling academically, Firoozan has been extremely active outside the classroom. She has spent countless hours volunteering at the Shelter Rock Public Library, where she reads to young students as a “Book Buddy,” and finds it “greatly rewarding to see children excited about reading and sharing their favorite stories with each other.” She also was president of the Herricks High Amnesty International Club, which promotes global human rights.

The Robert G. Porter Scholars Program is named in honor of the late AFT secretary-treasurer, who served for more than 30 years. Porter was known for his commitment to improving the quality of public education and public service.

Firoozan’s mother, Sara Nassiripour, is a member of the Herricks Teachers Association in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Sheila Firoozan will be attending the University of Southern California in the fall, where she plans to study medicine.

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