Longtime CEW supporter Molly Dobson established the Molly H. Dobson Scholarship in 1992 to recognize undergraduate women who have “expressed creativity, persistence, and dedication while striving to complete their education.”  No one better embodies those qualities than Farideh Almani, the 2006-2007 Dobson Scholar.

Farideh, a student activist who survived personal, social and political turmoil in her homeland of Iran, emigrated to the United States in 1991.  She will soon complete a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan’s Psychology Department and plans to continue her education with a graduate degree in public health.

“My friends urged me to apply,” Farideh explains.  “When I first learned that I had won a scholarship from CEW, I didn’t know the amount of the award, and I didn’t really care.

“Just getting the scholarship was enough for me, because it reassured me that people care about other people.  Though I had never met Molly Dobson, she was showing me that she felt a connection to me.  The world is small, people are similar, and they see, understand, and care about what happens to others.”

Of course, the scholarship money was also a big help to Farideh.  “I cried a lot on the day I learned how substantial the scholarship was.  It has made my life so much easier and given me peace of mind.”  In the end, however, Farideh believes the money itself has much greater value as a message from CEW: “Go for it!  We support you, and we appreciate your life.”

Farideh Almani, 2006-2007
CEW Molly Dobson Scholar.