Donors establish scholarship endowment for first generation and female students in STEM

Muhammad and Fatema Rashid established the Dr. Faeza Rashid Kazmier STEM Scholarship Endowment, which will benefit first generation in college and female students in UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. 

“STEM education cultivates problem-solving and critical thinking skills for creativity and innovation needed for the 21st century workforce,” said Muhammad and Fatema Rashid. “We believe that supporting STEM scholarships at UWF would aid in fostering future leaders and innovators, facilitating unbounded advancement towards the future of our great state and the nation.” 

Named after their daughter, the Rashids’ sixth established endowment marks the most endowments to UWF by a donor. The Dr. Faeza Rashid Kazmier STEM Scholarship Endowment served as a matching gift on UWF’s Day of Giving, a 24-hour online fundraising initiative and social-media-driven effort that supports the University and its programs. In the last year, the Rashids gifted $116,400 to UWF, making their lifetime giving to the University more than $214,000. The five other endowments established by the Rashids in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering are the Dr. Mumammad H. Rashid Engineering Research and Projects Endowment; Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid Female Engineering Scholarship Endowment; Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid Future Generation Engineering Scholarship Endowment; Drs. Muhammad H. and Fatema Rashid Paths to STEM Scholarship Endowment; and the Muhammad Rashid Best Project Award Endowment. 

“We are grateful for the generosity of the Rashids and the impact they continue to make in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering,” said Dr. Jaromy Kuhl, dean of the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering. “Their most recent gift opens the doors for underrepresented individuals in STEM, giving them an opportunity to receive a high-quality education at UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering.”

Muhammad Rashid, professor emeritus in the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering, was with the electrical and computer engineering program at UWF since its inception in 1994 until he retired in 2009. He has a doctorate in electrical and electronic engineering. Fatema received her doctorate in medicine. 

For more information about giving to UWF, visit uwf.edu/give.

For more information about the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering at UWF, visit uwf.edu/hmcse.