Presidential Volunteer Service Awards presented to Four Imagine School Students

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  • Kush Kaur (10th grade)
  • Keemya Razmgir (12th grade)
  • Ainsley Burkes (12th grade)
  • Sahib Kaur (12th grade)

Four high school students from Imagine International Academy of North Texas (IIA-NT) were awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for their service to Afghan refugees displaced in North Texas.

Led by the AmeriCorps and managed in partnership with Points of Light, the PVSA is a civil award bestowed by the president of the United States. Established by George W. Bush in 2003 and continued under each administration, the award honors volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping people in need.

Presented with the President’s Volunteer Gold Medal Service Award were sisters Sahib Kaur (12th grade) and Kush Kaur (10th grade). Keemya Razmgir (12th grade) and Ainsley Burkes (12th grade) received the Bronze Medal Service Award. Each student received a personalized certificate, an official medallion, and a congratulatory letter from President Biden.

All four girls volunteered their time, energy and knowledge through SARBAT, a nonprofit founded by Sahib Kaur in 2020. The students provided computer literacy classes, career guidance, and donations to Afghan refugees settling in North Texas.

Sahib founded SARBAT after she won the International Baccalaureate (IB) MYP Innovator Award and received a grant of nearly $10,000. As a child of immigrants, Sahib witnessed first-hand how talented people are left behind due to lack of digital skills. “Although our county provides some classes on computer basics,” said Kaur, “it is not targeted towards immigrants and nor do they teach skills to establish a digital presence, which is crucial to running a business. I started SARBAT to fill this gap and provide much needed follow-up assistance after the course is finished.”

“Our mission at IIA-NT is to cultivate future leaders passionate about making a positive contribution to their local and global communities. I am so proud of our students and their commitment to volunteer service,” shared Pamela Hinterscher, Upper School Director at IIA-NT. “I am excited to see how these dedicated young leaders will continue to strengthen their community and change the world.”