Advanced scientist. Author of graduate-level research program.
Medical volunteer.  Supporter of hospital ER operations.
International energy expert.  Presented an original essay at the United Nations.

Meet Arifeen Rahman.

A high school senior from California, Arifeen embodies the all-around high school student through her work, community service, and other achievements, and the Discus Awards is proud to recognize Arifeen for her excellence in and outside the classroom.

Arifeen is the winner of the April 2012 National All-Around Student Scholarship, a scholarship for high school students presented to one select Discus Award winner every month of the academic year. From among thousands of Discus Award winners and accomplishments in 10 attribute categories, a panel of judges has chosen Arifeen as the recipient of the $2,000 college scholarship.

The Discus Awards, a high school recognition and scholarship program honoring students who excel in and out of the classroom, looks beyond grades, test scores, and win-loss records and recognizes students for their multi-dimensional talents and passions.

Arifeen stands out among her peers as the captain of high school clubs, impresses at the next level in her graduate-level research projects, and wows world leaders with her presentation at the United Nations, and the Discus Awards is proud to shine the spotlight on her.

		Work
		“In 2011 I was a summer researcher in physical chemistry under UC Berkeley's Professor Stephen Leone, chosen out of 140 applicants. I created a graduate-level program to analyze strong field ionization spectroscopy in CH3I and presented my project in front of Berkeley professors and graduate students. ” In addition to her work in the lab, Arifeen worked at Scientists and Engineers for America as a policy intern, working among graduate and post-doctorate students researching a broad range of subjects. She was published in Research!America's New Voices for America, and was a student election officer for the 2010 electoral primary. Arifeen has shown she's not easily intimidated by conquering highly advanced research projects alongside researchers who were in the lab before Arifeen's entered high school.

		Community Service
		“I have been volunteering at El Camino Hospital for four years as an Emergency Department Assistant, accumulating over 190 hours of service. I am a liaison between the patients and staff and additionally help support overall operations of the Emergency Room. I have also been the Junior shift captain of my volunteering shift for the past four years.” Last summer, Arifeen worked at the Stanford School of Medicine's Pacific Free Clinic, not only learning by shadowing the professionals, but also by interacting with patients. She also presented original research to the clinic on type 2 diabetes. Getting a head start on medicine, Arifeen already knows how to take patient interviews, vitals signs, and perform physical exams due to her participation in the clinic's Immersion in Community Medicine program.

		Other Achievements
		“I won a national contest, the Citizen Science Paper Competition, writing a policy paper on the uses of cellulosic ethanol as an alternative fuel. I gave a twenty-minute presentation of my paper at the United Nations Headquarters at the 19th Commission on Sustainable Development.” In addition to presenting original work at the U.N., Arifeen was invited to observe a keynote address by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. The paper she presented at the U.N. was published online in Citizen Science. Arifeen has also begun tackling stem cell research, winning a state-wide competition by writing a paper on stem cell policy.

Learn more about Arifeen and other Discus Awards winners