Eastern Oregon University has named its 2026 President’s Scholar

Eastern Oregon University has named its 2026 President’s Scholar

 LA GRANDE, Ore. — Eastern Oregon University has named Qazizada its 2026 President’s Scholar, one of the university’s highest student honors recognizing academic achievement, leadership, integrity, and service.

When Mohtarama “Mary” Qazizada first arrived at Eastern Oregon University, she felt lost.

After fleeing Afghanistan in 2019 and spending nearly three years in Turkey with her brother and his family, Qazizada came to the United States in search of opportunity, stability, and belonging. But even after arriving at EOU in fall 2022, she struggled to find her place.

“When I first came to EOU, I had language limitations,” Qazizada said. “I had a hard time finding my place here. I struggled with knowing a lot of social references and connecting with my peers.”

The journey from uncertainty to recognition is one Qazizada said was shaped by resilience, perseverance, and the community she found at EOU.

“Growing up in Afghanistan, I faced many limitations, including restricted opportunities to live as a free individual who could make my own decisions and limited access to leadership roles due to my gender,” she said. “When I immigrated to the United States, I was immediately struck by the number of opportunities that were available to me.”

Qazizada, a double major in mathematics and computer science, has maintained a 3.9 GPA while pursuing advanced research, mentoring fellow students, and contributing to outreach efforts throughout Eastern Oregon.

Still, she said one of the most surprising parts of her journey was discovering her own strength.

“The fact that I am a math major and graduating with a math degree is surprising by itself,” she said. “I never believed I would do it.”

Qazizada credits much of her success to a mindset rooted in determination and persistence.

“Once I decided to become a math major, I told myself, ‘I’m going to do this,’” she said. “And I did it.”

At EOU, Qazizada immersed herself in academics and campus involvement. She completed two consecutive years of mathematical research with Professor Amy Yielding, resulting in two published papers in EOU’s science journal. Her work explored the novel field of “permuted sums,” a branch of number theory with potential applications connected to cryptography and technology.

In addition to her studies, she serves as a mathematics and computer science tutor in EOU’s Learning Center, helping students develop analytical thinking and programming skills. She also worked as a student software developer for the EOU Computer Science Department.

But for Qazizada, academic success became meaningful because of the relationships she built along the way.

“Over time, I have built a very strong and good community around myself,” she said.

She remembers inviting classmates, professors, and friends to an early symposium presentation and being overwhelmed by the turnout.

“The room was filled,” she said. “People were sitting on the tables because they couldn’t fit in the room. That meant a lot to me. I realized all these people were here to support me.”

When asked whether the community she found at EOU contributed to her success, Qazizada answered without hesitation.

“100%,” she said. “I don’t think we can do everything by ourselves. Every person we interact with, whether at work or otherwise, somehow impacts our lives. They are part of our success.”

Faculty and peers have also recognized her dedication to community engagement through events such as high school math contests and EOU’s Investigators of Science program, where she volunteers to support younger students interested in STEM education.

Qazizada said EOU helped transform her understanding of resilience, belonging, and leadership.

“My journey here at EOU has taught me resilience as I faced many academic and social challenges,” she said. “It showed me the power of community in making our society better by providing support at times when I felt like a stranger and did not belong.”

Fluent in English, Persian, and Pashto, Qazizada plans to continue her education after graduation while using her background in mathematics and technology to make a meaningful impact through community service and innovation.

As this year’s President’s Scholar, she will also speak at commencement ceremonies, an opportunity she said both excites and terrifies her.

She hopes students who hear her story, especially those struggling to find where they belong, understand that perseverance matters.

“When I came to EOU, I did not know my place,” she said. “But patience and focusing on my academics and personal growth helped me overcome those challenges and eventually find the community where I belong.”