Commencement Profile: Hibbah Mojawalla

SUNY Chancellor’s Award For Student Excellence

Hibbah Mojawalla has earned a bachelor of science in childhood education (grades 1–6) with a concentration in English, attaining a 4.0 GPA while participating in the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program and Kenzie Scholars Program.

She will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 9:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 147th Commencement, Saturday, May 18, in the Sports Arena. 

Mojawalla is a proactive student with a genuine focus on learning. She is an achiever who brings an inquisitive mind and tireless work ethic to class and to all her endeavors. Most important, she embodies the college’s mission and vision by empowering herself and fellow students to succeed and develop into leaders for an increasingly global society.

A two-time Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) award winner for academic excellence and winner of the Anna Mae Murphy Elementary Education Scholarship, she conducted original honors colloquium research into how service learning enhances the preparation of teachers. She presented her findings at the Buffalo State Student Research and Creativity Conference. Because of her commitment and perseverance, she graduated a semester earlier than anticipated and immediately began her work toward a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction.

Mojawalla founded the Buffalo State Muslim Student Association to help build a stronger interfaith community on campus, collaborating with the college’s president to create the first prayer and mediation space on campus and organizing bimonthly congregational prayers as well as interfaith panel discussions. She received the President’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Engagement for completing 1,000 hours of community service.

In the community, Mojawalla has volunteered extensively at Jami Masjid, a Muslim community center in Buffalo. She has worked as a supervisor for the Jami Youth Ambassador Committee, youth leader, girls soccer coach, sports organizer, and fundraiser for various projects, including the food pantry and community shuttle service. She also works as an after-school math tutor and helped raise funds for the community-built playground project at the Universal School, the nonprofit Islamic school at Jami Masjid.