DETROIT "" Two Wayne State University Law School students were awarded scholarships from the Michigan Muslim Bar Association.

Zanah Ghalawanji of Troy and Husnah Khan of Bloomfield Hills were each presented with $500 scholarships at the Michigan Muslim Bar Association's Fifth Annual Scholarship Dinner in November.

The awards are given to students in good academic standing based on their essay response to a topic.

Ghalawanji, a second-year law student, is a President's Scholar and vice president of Wayne Law's Muslim Law Students Association. This summer she will be working in Amman, Jordan, on refugee resettlement with the International Refugee Assistance Project.

"I am extremely excited to have been awarded the Michigan Muslim Bar Association scholarship," said Ghalawanji. "It is an honor to be recognized among the American-Muslim legal community. I hope to continue to strive to represent my community and my university in the best light possible."

Ghalawanji was previously a law clerk for Masri Law Office PLLC in Dearborn and worked as an office administrator for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Farmington Hills. She also was an intern for the Syrian National Coalition in Washington, D.C. Ghalwanji earned her bachelor's degree in political science and psychology from the University of Michigan "" Dearborn.

Khan, a second-year law student, is president of Wayne Law's Muslim Law Students Association and lieutenant governor of public interest for the American Bar Association Law Student Division's Sixth Circuit. Khan re-established Wayne Law's Muslim Law Students Association in 2016 to provide Muslim law students an avenue to connect with one another, meet Muslim legal professionals and participate in community building events. This year the organization hosted Rabia Chaudry, the attorney who introduced Adnan Syed's case to the Serial podcast creator.

"I was deeply humbled to be chosen as one of the 2016 Michigan Muslim Bar Association scholarship recipients," said Khan. "Since my faith plays an integral part of my identity, receiving an award from the Michigan Muslim Bar Association made me feel especially thankful. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Michigan Muslim Bar Association President Dewnya Bazzi. She has created a dynamic community of Muslim legal professionals and has consequently provided law students with unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional development. I am honored to be one of those students."

Last summer, Khan was awarded an AmeriCorps JD Fellowship through her work as a summer intern at the University of Michigan's Innocence Clinic. The fellowship is awarded to individuals working to provide legal assistance to members from low-income communities.

Khan earned her bachelor's degree in English from the University of Michigan. While an undergraduate, she studied at Oxford University in England as part of summer study abroad program.

Photos:

• Zanah Ghalawanji
• Husnah Khan