Oct. 5, 2005
Pocatello, ID -- Idaho State's graduate assistant academic advisor, Mohammad Rafiq, has been awarded the 2005 National Student-Athlete Day Giant Steps Award in the category of Courageous Student-Athlete. Rafiq is also the recipient of an NCAA Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics.
A former member of the Idaho State men's basketball team, Rafiq gave up his basketball career after his sophomore campaign to return home and attend to some family problems. Now, Rafiq has returned to Idaho State as a graduate assistant academic advisor. Rafiq's main duties include academic advising and managing the student-athlete study table. The former ISU athlete is also working on a master's degree in athletic administration.
The Giant Steps Award is awarded to courageous student-athletes, coaches, civic leaders, athletic administrators, parents and teachers. Rafiq is one of the six prestigious award winners of 2005. The 2005 honorees include Civic Leader: David Stern, Commissioner, National Basketball Association; Courageous Student-Athletes (Male): Sevy Sucurovic, University of Kentucky, Macharia Yuot, Widener University and Mohammad Rafiq, University of California, Davis; Courageous Student-Athlete (Female): Destiny Woodbury, University of Rhode Island; and Coach Ken Carter, Former Head Basketball Coach Richmond High School made famous by the movie Coach Carter staring Samuel L. Jackson.
The Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics was awarded to Rafiq by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee in the amount of a $6,000 nonrenewable scholarship.
Rafiq earned the Giant Steps Award because of his struggles and courage throughout his life and athletic career.
Born in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion, Mohammad Rafiq's future was certainly in question. His father was arrested for working on a project with an American company in Kabul. After being released from jail, the family, including his parents, two older siblings and two uncles fled during the night as the Russians patrolled the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. With no food, the family slept hidden in a cave while armed soldiers fought outside its hidden entrance. Rafiq's cries were muffled in a blanket to keep from attracting attention.
The family made it to Pakistan where they lived in a refugee camp for eight months before Americans helped them apply for asylum and church sponsorship. After arriving in Seattle, they went to live with family members in Colorado and eventually settled in Yuba City, CA when Rafiq was in fifth grade. It was there that he began playing basketball in a community recreation league.
In 2000, his parents' American dream for him came true as he signed a full athletic scholarship to play Division I basketball at Idaho State. In 2001 after the tragic events of 9/11, Rafiq wanted his team and the greater community to understand that being Muslim was not negative. He felt a certain responsibility to be a positive role model, educating non-Muslims about the many good people practicing the religion. Rafiq was interviewed by ESPN and they determined that he was the only Afghanistan native playing Division I basketball in the country.
Rafiq has always appreciated the freedom given to people of all faith in the U.S. and cherishes the unlimited opportunities that his American citizenship and the sport of basketball have given him. Although he had to transfer from Idaho State because of family problems, he is fulfilling his dream of returning to Idaho State to earn his Master's Degree while working as an Assistant Basketball Coach.
Rafiq described himself as a basketball player, a husband, a Muslim, a coach, an American and a father. He understands and is grateful that his family made great sacrifices to give him the freedom to experience these roles in a land of prosperity and opportunity.
