Afghan Women's Scholarship Awarded by San Francisco Bar Association and Golden Gate University.

Business/News & Legal Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 4, 2002

Concord Resident Nasrina Bargzie Named Recipient;

Bargzie to Study Human Rights Law

A father is tortured and executed as a prisoner of war in Afghanistan. An uneducated mother is left with three small children and a baby on the way. An Afghan family struggles to overcome societal issues and a mother encourages the pursuit of education. This is the story of Nasrina Bargzie, the 21-year-old Afghan descendant who today has been awarded the Advancement of Afghan Women Scholarship by the San Francisco Bar Association (SFBar) in conjunction with Golden Gate University School of Law. Conceived by SFBar President Angela Bradstreet, and supported by Dean Peter Keane of Golden Gate University, the scholarship was designed to enable women who have suffered as a result of the repressive policies of the Afghan government to study law in the United States. The scholarship will cover all tuition costs for Bargzie's three-year study program.

"The selection process was difficult. We received numerous applications from around the globe, each relaying horrendous stories of oppression and abuse inflicted by recent governments of Afghanistan," said SFBar President Angela Bradstreet, a partner in the law firm Carroll, Burdick & McDonough and a long-time advocate for women's causes. "Nasrina's story is exceptional. Although she has endured incredible hardships, Nasrina's experiences have empowered her to overcome societal restrictions. She is certainly a role model for other Afghan women. We are in awe of her accomplishments thus far and know that she will be an outstanding member of Golden Gate University's student body."

"On a local level, this scholarship is just one way we can counteract the many years of restrictions imposed on the women of Afghanistan," said Peter Keane, dean of Golden Gate University School of Law. "We are thrilled to have such a courageous and dedicated student as Nasrina be a part of our legal program, and we look forward to seeing her succeed as she pursues her career in human rights law."

About Nasrina Bargzie

In 1979, Nasrina Bargzie's father was imprisoned by Afghanistan's communist regime, led by President Amin. Her father was tortured and eventually executed as a prisoner of war because of his ethnicity. Surviving this tragedy were his uneducated, pregnant wife and three infant children. After coming to the United States as refugees, Bargzie and her three older sisters have become the first generation in their family to attend college. Currently a senior at Cal State Hayward, Bargzie will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an option in Marketing Management, and a minor in Economics this month. As the scholarship recipient, Bargzie will enter Golden Gate University School of Law in the fall and study International Law with an emphasis in Human Rights.

"I am grateful to the San Francisco Bar Association and Golden Gate University for giving me this opportunity," said Bargzie. "The events of my past have shaped who I am today, and I feel it is my responsibility to pursue a career in international law where I can work for the betterment of human rights as a whole. I was not there the day my father needed me, but I will be there the next time, for the next person."

Rep. Ellen Tauscher of California's 10th Congressional District said, "For women throughout the world, education is the key to bettering their lives and the world we all live in. I applaud the San Francisco Bar Association and Golden Gate University for establishing this scholarship and hope that other bar associations throughout the country look at this as a model program and follow suit to open more doors to more women everywhere."

For more information regarding the scholarship sponsors, go to the San Francisco Bar Association Web site at www.sfbar.org or Golden Gate University School of Law Web site at www.ggu.edu/law.