Mason Student Awarded National Future Educator Scholarship For Work Advancing Equity in Education

Mason, OH – Hamza Usmani, a high school student from Mason, Ohio, was recently awarded the Future Educator Scholarship by National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). This honor recognizes students who are passionate about transforming education and ensuring equal opportunity for all learners.

Hamza is the founder of Aspire Together, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides educational support to schools and students impacted by the Palisades wildfires. His organization helps children regain academic stability and emotional confidence through tutoring, mentorship, and community-based resources. For Hamza, teaching is about restoring hope, building resilience, and ensuring that no student is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.

In addition to his nonprofit work, Hamza has collaborated with Dr. Barghaus at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education to analyze equitable preschool access in Philadelphia. He also worked with Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, to explore how AI tools like Study Mode can enhance learning in high school classrooms.

Hamza says, “All this inequity has birthed my passion to create real solutions, challenge outdated policies, and speak out for change, ensuring that no student’s background, socioeconomic status, or unfortunate circumstances will hinder their education from living up to its promise as the great equalizer.”

About National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS)

NSHSS is the premier honors and scholarship program co-founded by Claes Nobel and James Lewis. It offers a lifetime of benefits, pairing the highest performing students worldwide with high school and college scholarships, events, connections, internships, and career opportunities. For more information, visit www.nshss.org.