Shabana Basij-Rasikh ’11 Named to Top 10 College Women List

Glamour Magazine named its Top Ten College Women in its latest issue and Middlebury’s own Shabana Basij-Rasikh ’11 made the list as “The Groundbreaker.” The magazine recognized her work building schools and wells in Afghanistan as well as launching her nonprofit. Here’s a sampling:

Growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, Basij-Rasikh dressed as a boy for five years and walked 45 minutes to and from a secret school six days a week—that was the only way she could get an education. After the Taliban fell, she proposed a plan for a girls’ school to the deputy minister of education. She was just 16, but she convinced him. …Her next goal? To build fields for girls’ athletics in Afghanistan (make a donation at helainc.org). Oh, and to attend law school.

Shabana also was among three college students to get interviewed on the TODAY show. Watch the clip here.

Congrats Shabana!