The faces of the elementary school children Heshmat Mirsepassi taught in her native Iran lingered in her mind for decades. Many of those children came to school with just a crust of bread to eat for an entire day. One day, she vowed, she would have enough money to help them.
Leaving Iran, Heshmat came to the United States with her husband, Dr. Taghi Mirsepassi, supporting him as he embarked on what would become a successful career in aerospace engineering. Starting in 1951, she tucked away cash, little by little, in a small box she kept in her bedroom. Her husband did not know what she was doing.
She did not reveal her secret until a week before she died in 2016. Inspired by her commitment and compassion, Dr. Mirsepassi used the savings as a seed to establish the Heshmat Mirsepassi Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of La Verne, fulfilling his wife’s wish of helping students in need pursue their education.
Dr. Mirsepassi hopes recipients will honor Heshmat’s legacy by caring for others, contributing to the public good, and giving back to their communities to improve the lives of those around them.
Apply now!
We are now currently accepting applications for scholarships to be awarded for the 2022-23 school year. If you believe you qualify, please click here.
Requirements
- Be a current or incoming student at the University of La Verne
- Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Demonstrate financial need
- Participate in the Muslim Student Association at the University of La Verne
- Submit a letter of recommendation from your Imam or local Muslim leader
Selection Process
Scholarship candidates will be evaluated on the following: satisfaction of all criteria, response to short answer question, and letter of recommendation. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Scholarship will automatically renew throughout the recipient’s undergraduate study at the University of La Verne if the above criteria continue to be met.
Applications are now available, with award amounts up to $10,000.