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Hafiza studied abroad at Stevens High School in Rapid City during the 2009-2010 academic year. After spending six months back in Afghanistan, a group of local sponsors, including a few of her host families from when Hafiza studied abroad, raised money so she could return to Rapid City and study chemical engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Now Hafiza is back in Rapid City and the school created a scholarship for her. These are pictures from a "meet & greet" gathering at the Rapid City Public Library. Of these photographs, my favorite is the first picture, where Hafiza reunites with her math teacher from Stevens High School, Thomas Keck. Keck said Farzami would come into her classroom between classes on "an almost daily basis" to talk about her home, family and struggles.

these images are © 2011 Rapid City Journal and may not be reprinted or used without permission.