Harper College will be closed Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1 for Winter Break.
Maliha Amir is entering her second year at Harper College and working toward her Associate
in Engineering Science. She is an Engineering Pathways student and maintains a 3.79
GPA. She is a first-generation college student, her father emigrated from Pakistan
to pursue opportunities for his family in the United States. She comes from a large
family, including five siblings who are all in college. Her interest in engineering
started very young. Maliha recalls disassembling and reassembling furniture her grandfather,
a furniture maker, had put together just to see how things worked. Her STEM interest
continued through junior high and high school where she excelled in engineering focused
classes and joined STEM clubs such as Underwater Robotics. She hopes to focus on electrical
or mechanical engineering.
Maliha earned an internship at Haumiller Engineering in South Elgin where she works part-time. She volunteers at GiGi’s Playhouse where she tutors children with Down Syndrome in math and math concepts. At Harper she is involved in clubs and activities including the Honors Program, Muslim Association Society, Harper Society of Engineers, and Women in Science and Engineering.
In her scholarship application, Maliha states, “I want to pursue a degree in engineering and become the first female engineer in my family. I want to make a difference not only in engineering field but become an example to inspire other females to become engineers. Getting the HOPE Scholarship not only gives me the chance to pursue my education but fulfill the dreams of those in my family who worked hard to change my life.”