Student receives Richmond-Haydar Scholarship

May 3, 2010 -- Alamgir Shakir, a political science major from Pakistan who is attending Arkansas State University, has been named the recipient of the Mossie J. Richmond-Afak Haydar Scholarship Award during a ceremony in April in the ASU Student Union Spring River Room.

Shakir was one of five finalists for the prestigious award which is presented annually to international students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership, both inside and outside the classroom.

The award was endowed by the family and friends of the late Dr. Mossie J. Richmond, Jr., former vice president for Student Affairs, and Dr. Afak Haydar, former director of International programs at ASU. Both were instrumental in the internationalization of the ASU-Jonesboro campus during the 1980s and 1990s.

Shakir currently serves as a graduate assistant in the Learning Support Center. Out of 25 students, he was among five students chosen to represent ASU’s international organization paper. He is ranked in the top three presenters in Representation of Cultural and Traditional Awareness of Country among ASU students.

In addition, he has spoken on behalf of interfaith dialogue to ease tension between the west and the Muslim world, and is presently working on his thesis on Afghanistan. He also made a presentation in the Arkansas Political Science Association meeting held at ASU in February. Shakir helped lead an interactive international relations roundtable discussion on the organization of the Islamic conference during that meeting.

Including Shakir, the other finalists are Xiao Hu of China, Ali Khalil of Syria, Yang Li of China, and Maqsood Ali Mughal of Pakistan.

Pictured: Alamgir Shakir (left) is pictured with Mrs. Velmar Singleton Richmond, wife of the late Dr. Mossie Richmond.

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