Maria Hasan Maisha, a resident of Sherpur Road in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj, has earned a prestigious scholarship to study at Asian University for Women (AUW) after completing a STEM-focused Summer School Program supported by Chevron Bangladesh.
Maisha enrolled at AUW Summer School on July 1, 2025, shortly after passing HSC examinations. Under the scholarship package, she will receive $15,000 annually for four years, totalling $60,000 (around Tk 75 lakh).
Maisha’s father Bangladesh Bank official Monjur Hasan Monir died in 2017. Her mother Rebecca Sultana now runs a small clothing business to support the family. After passing SSC exams from J.K. High School in Nabiganj, Maisha studied at Sylhet Government Women’s College and passed her HSC examinations in 2025 before enrolling for the Summer School program.
Talking to this correspondent, Maisha said she came from a humanities background and initially had little knowledge of science subjects.
“Science always felt intimidating to me. But the Summer School removed that fear and showed me that science is not as difficult as I once thought,” she said.
She added that her teammates provided significant support, especially in chemistry and laboratory concepts, knowing she was not from a science background.
Describing the scholarship as life-changing, Maisha said studying at AUW would have been nearly impossible without financial assistance. “I am grateful to Chevron for creating this opportunity,” she said.
Maisha credited her mother and elder brother, Shahriar Hasan Rahi, a second-year honours student, for inspiring and supporting her educational journey. Teachers at Sylhet Government Women’s College also encouraged her to attend the Summer School program to gain exposure to science and a new academic environment.