Yasmina Raya of Fairfax, Va., a student in the Executive Master of Natural Resources program in the National Capital Region, received a scholarship from the Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects. The scholarship is presented to a student in the field of engineering, architecture, or information technology to promote these fields as worthy professions and to foster stronger ties between the association and the Arab American community.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota, Raya worked for an environmental design firm. “An initial interest in sustainability issues just continued to grow,” Raya explained. “I realized I wanted to devote my career to green initiatives.”

In May, Raya completed the college’s Executive Master of Natural Resources program, in which students meet one weekend a month at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington and work off-campus the rest of the time, as well as complete a 10-day international residency. Raya has now focused her attention on energy efficient rebuilding programs and hopes to work in that particular field. “I am looking forward to applying what I’ve learned in the Virginia Tech program to future sustainability projects,” she said.

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