2025 – 2026 Scholars – Starlight Fund

2025-2026 Scholars

Sonia Noori

My name is Sonia Noori, and I am from Afghanistan. I played soccer on the national soccer team, attended high school in Kabul. Before the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, I lost both my parents and my world shattered. In 2021, after the Taliban took control of the government, my siblings and I had no choice but to leave everything behind and start over in the United States. We arrived with nothing but hope and determination. While the loss of my parents has been a deep and lasting pain, their dreams for me continue to guide my journey every day.

Before coming to the U.S., I loved school and worked hard to make my parents proud. Now, in a new country, I am committed to continuing my education and building a meaningful career. I have chosen to pursue a paralegal degree at Prince George’s Community College as the first step toward my long-term goal of becoming an immigration lawyer. After completing my associate’s degree, I plan to attend law school.

My passion for immigration law comes from my own experience. I understand what it feels like to be displaced, to be afraid, and to have to rebuild your life from zero. I want to help others who are facing those same challenges. By becoming an immigration lawyer, I hope to give back to my community, stand up for the rights of those who are vulnerable, and offer guidance to those navigating the complex immigration system.

This scholarship would be a tremendous help in achieving my goals. It would not only support me financially, but also inspire me to keep going, knowing that others believe in my potential. I am determined to become the person my parents always hoped I would be a strong, compassionate woman who helps others and makes a difference.

Thank you for supporting the Starlight Scholarship Fund for Girls. It has enabled me to pursue my education and hopefully fulfil my dream of becoming an immigration lawyer.

Jessica Glecy Groyon

“Ano ang sinabi mo?” — What did you say? These were the first words spoken to my parents when they arrived in the United States from the Philippines. Their hope for opportunity was met with disbelief, and their determination was often mistaken for naivety. Growing up, I learned early what it feels like to be unheard.

For years, I struggled with belonging—too foreign in some spaces, too invisible in others. Everything shifted when I realized that language is more than words; it is connection. For me, that language became data.

Through learning Python and SQL, I discovered how data can tell human stories, reveal inequities, and guide better decisions. As an Information Systems major at Virginia Commonwealth University, I aspire to become a data analyst who uses analytics to amplify marginalized voices and turn lived experiences into insight.

This purpose extends beyond the classroom. As an AAPI Peer Mentor, I support students navigating impostor syndrome, financial stress, and the pressure of the “model minority” myth. Through internships with the Department of Energy and the Gardner Institute, I have applied data analysis to education research and equity initiatives that support student success nationwide.

I am a first-generation, low-income, queer woman of color. These identities, once framed as barriers, now shape my responsibility to create change. With a 4.0 GPA in VCU’s Business and Honors College, I am building the representation I once searched for.

The Starlight Scholarship Fund for Girls has helped ease the financial burden of higher education, allowing me to focus fully on my studies, expand my leadership, and continue using data not just to report problems—but to solve them.

Sayeda Rakazada

My Journey, My Purpose, and My Commitment to Cybersecurity

My name is Sayeda Rakazada, and I am pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity at NOVA College. I was born and raised in Afghanistan, where instability, inequality, and fear were part of daily life, especially for women. Growing up, I learned early what it means to live without security. I saw how the absence of protection can silence voices, limit opportunity, and shape the course of a life long before a person is given the chance to dream.

Moving to the United States changed everything. For the first time, I experienced safety not as a hope, but as a reality. With that safety came possibility—the possibility to learn, to grow, and to imagine a future defined not by what I survived, but by what I could build. Adapting to a new culture, language, and education system was challenging, but I carried with me a deep sense of purpose: to turn my experiences into strength and to use education as a way to protect others.

That purpose led me to cybersecurity. In a world increasingly shaped by technology, security is not just technical—it is human. Cyberattacks threaten livelihoods, privacy, and trust. I want to stand on the front lines of that protection. I am particularly drawn to security at the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) level, where defense begins at the very foundation of a computer. Though often unseen, this layer is critical to preventing the most devastating and persistent attacks. Within the next three years, I aspire to become a Cyber BIOS specialist, working in the private sector or for a government organization to help safeguard critical systems.

This path is personal. Coming from a country that has endured conflict and vulnerability, I understand the consequences when security fails. I also feel a responsibility to help young women from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them see themselves in tech positions and believe that they belong. Representation creates possibility, and I want my journey to help open doors for others.

Receiving the Starlight Scholarship has been profoundly meaningful. As a student balancing school, part-time work, and family responsibilities, financial strain often stands between me and opportunities to grow. This scholarship has helped lift some of that weight. It gave me the ability to focus, to pursue hands-on experience, and to move forward with confidence. More than financial support, it was a powerful message that my story matters and that my future is worth investing in.

I carry that belief with me every day. I am committed to giving back by strengthening cybersecurity systems, mentoring others, and using my education to create a safer, more inclusive future for others.