A St. Michael’s Adult Catholic High School student and a newcomer to Canada who helped support refugee students in Malaysia has been selected as the recipient of a $100,000 award from the Loran Scholars Foundation.

Kubra Ashori, who is originally from Afghanistan, was one of 36 exceptional youth selected from more than 5,000 applicants across Canada who have demonstrated they have embraced the challenge of leaving the world better than they found it. 

“When I got the call, I was driving with my father,” Kubra told CBC’s Windsor Morning when asked about how she learned that she was a recipient of the award. “It felt like I was being blessed. I was super excited. Grateful, because it isn't just me who heard the news. There are so many other characters and people who are behind this person.”

Kubra was a volunteer teacher at a refugee school in Malaysia, where she tutored kids from kindergarten to secondary school in math and English. She also provided educational guidance and information to refugees still in Malaysia awaiting resettlement in Canada and worked as a volunteer providing free interpretation services to refugees. 

Her family left Afghanistan in 2017 for India and then sought asylum in Malaysia. They arrived in Canada in early 2023. Now working for the Multicultural Council of Windsor, Kubra continues to volunteer regularly and work as a freelance translator. She wants to become a nurse and plans to attend York University next year.

As graduating high school and Cégep students, the pursuits and accomplishments of the newest Loran Award recipients are exemplary, but it is their values-driven approach to leading and their dedication to uplifting their communities that distinguish them as Loran Scholars. 

To find these young people, Loran looks beyond marks to identify students with a guiding sense of purpose: those who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, a deep commitment to service, and the potential to lead with integrity. 

To become a Loran Scholar, each student participated in an in-depth, nationwide selection

process carried out by hundreds of volunteer assessors and interviewers. From writing an application to regional semi-final interviews to attending national interviews in Toronto, the entire Loran selection process is a personal growth experience—a chance for students to learn about themselves and connect with other optimistic young changemakers.

Loran Scholars benefit from a four-year, comprehensive leadership-enrichment program, financial support, and a network of values-driven peers and mentors—unlike anything else in this country. 

You can see a CTV Windsor article about Kubra here.