HHS seniors cruise to a successful end of school year

By Ian Perrotta
The four years of hard work put in by Hamtramck High’s senior class clearly paid off.
Last Thursday (May 20), after years of fundraisers that included bake sales, car washes, and an improv comedy show, the class of 2010 celebrated prom in style aboard the 138-foot yacht Ovation.
After the ship set sail around 7 p.m., it cruised along the coast of Lake St. Claire for three hours before returning to dock for an hour-long after party. As the boat sailed, the 150-or-so students on board were able to enjoy a tasty buffet spread and an ice-cream bar in the lower levels of the ship. On the open-air top deck, a DJ played everyone’s favorite hits as groups of teens lit up the dance floor.
Without a cloud in the sky it was a perfect night for prom, and one that only got better for two students in particular. Omar Thabet, quarterback for the football team and star pitcher for the baseball team, was elected Prom King, while Emina Alic, class president and captain of the soccer team, was named Prom Queen.
While the prom was a great way to celebrate the end of high school, the reason for attending classes was on full display Tuesday (May 25) afternoon during the senior honors program, which recognized Hamtramck’s students for their outstanding academic achievements.
“Senior award recipients: You represent your family, your school, your community, and of course Hamtramck. Always be proud that you are from Hamtramck,” said school superintendent Tom Niczay. “I personally, and the teachers and administration, will use you as examples to motivate others to show what can be accomplished when you apply yourself.”
Because so many students received awards and scholarships, it’s hard to say who received top honors. One thing is certain, however – these kids are incredibly smart and talented. Jihan Aiyash and Tamal Sikder were co-valedictorians for the class of 2010, and Zolak Datta took home salutatorian honors. Additionally, Sikder received over $140,000 in scholarships while Aiyash earned $42,000 worth of tuition.
It wasn’t all about grades at the ceremony, but it’s probably safe to say that these next few students surely did well. Naznin Aktar, Rabina Ali, Rubina Ali, Anjuman Ara Asha, and Almedina Osmanovic all had perfect attendance over the past school year.

CO-VALEDICTORIAN HONORS
Jihan Aiyash
Tamal Sikder

SALUTATORIAN HONORS
Zolak Datta

MICHIGAN COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIP
Kazi Ahmed
Jihan Aiyash
Benjamin Bajgoric
Ashraf Bakth
Mahbubul Haque
Katarzyna Kasprzak
Zainulabideen Mahmood
Malgorzata Michalowska
Mamun Roshid
Yaiqup Yafai

COLLEGES / ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING SCHOLARSHIPS
COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES
Brandon Wright ($5,000 for 4 years – $20,000 total)
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY
Tamal Sikder ($4,000)
LAWRENCE TECH
Tamal Sikder ($4,000 for 4 years – $16,000 & Balance Man Scholarship $1,500)
MARYGROVE COLLEGE
Lovern Houston ($2,700 for 4 years – $10,800 total)
OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Jihan Aiyash ($2,500 for 4 years – $10,000 total)
Ashraf Bakth ($1,000 for 4 years – $4,000 total)
NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Mohamed Almaisari ($3,000 for 4 years – $12,000 total)
Diana Suchodolski ($3,000 for 4 years – $12,000 total)
Yaiqup Yafai ($3,000 for 4 years – $12,000 total)
SUN LIFE FINANCIAL
Tamal Sikder ($5,000)
UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT MERCY
Ruhina Akter ($9,500 for 4 years – $38,000 total)
Nipa Begum ($15,500 for 4 years – $62,000 total)
Tamal Sikder ($21,000 for 4 years – $84,000 total)
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-DEARBORN
Ruhina Akter ($8,000 for 4 years – $32,000 total)
Ashraf Bakth ($9,000 for 4 years – $36,000 total)
Tamal Sikder ($8,000 for 4 years – $32,000 total)
Jennifer Syeda ($8,000 for 4 years – $32,000 total)
WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Jihan Aiyash ($8,000 for 4 years – $32,000 total)
Naznin Aktar ($2,000 for 4 years – $8,000 total)
Emina Alic ($9,000 for 4 years – $36,000 total)
Edna Jakupovic ($2,000 for 4 years – $8,000 total)

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (3.0 GPA OR HIGHER)
Mohamed Abbas
Kazi Ahmed
Jihan Aiyash (*)
Tasnia Akhter
Naznin Aktar
Ruhina Akter
Mohamed Algehaim
Fatema Ali
Rabina Ali
Rubina Ali
Emina Alic
Fikreta Aljic
Mohamed Almaisari
Fadel Al-Marsoumi
Maeen Alqohaif
Anjuman Ara Asha
Ashraf Bakth
Tasmina Begom
Nipa Begum
Muna Bilbaria
Arnela Bogdanic
Nadia Butt
Rajib Chowdhury
Zolok Datta
Alena Dzanic
Joseph Estrope
Abdul Fahad
Adulrahman Ghalab
Ali Hajaran
Mahbubul Haque
Meejan Hussain
Amel Ibradzic
Edna Jakupovic
Katarzyna Kasprzak
Kenyati Keglar
Tanjima Lasker
Zainulabideen Mahmood
Andriy Marynovskyy
Krystian Merklinger
Edisa Mujanovic
Adeeb Muthana
Noshin Nawer
Sarah Obeid
Almedina Osmanovic
Amel Osmanovic
Rafal Osuch
Dejan Pavlovic
Semir Ponjevic
Mamun Roshid
Syaih Saleh
Aysha Siddique
Tamal Sikder (*)
Diana Suchodolski
Jennifer Syeda
Omar Thabet
Lindsay Tukes
Lena Uddin
Shannon Williams
Debra Woods
Brandon Wright
Yaiqup Yafai

*4.0 GPA or higher

PERFECT ATTENDANCE
Naznin Aktar
Rabina Ali
Rubina Ali
Anjuman Ara Asha
Almedina Osmanovic