WLCA Scholarships

In memory of Ashkan Fathi, A.C.E. is starting the “Ashkan Scholarship” to be awarded every year to help World Language & Culture Ambassadors students study with A.C.E. This fund is used for both the operation and educational costs which allow A.C.E. to provide foreign language education to elementary school students around Puget Sound. Upon your designation, your contribution will be used solely for student scholarships. Your contribution is tax deductible. Associates in Cultural Exchange is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

To contribute to the Ashkan Scholarship, make checks payable to “A.C.E. World Language & Culture Ambassadors” with “Ashkan Scholarship” written on the memo line. Send checks to:

A.C.E. World Language & Culture Ambassadors
200 W Mercer St., Ste 108
Seattle, WA 98119

About Ashkan

Ashkan Fathi was born on January 18, 1987 in Tehran, Iran. He was exposed to and was taught the Baha’i Faith through Daystar Baha’i School during elementary and middle school. Ashkan was a superb, intelligent student who maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA during this period. After middle school, Ashkan’s parents decided it would be best to send him to a special high school designed for gifted students. Unfortunately he was denied entry because of being a Baha’i.

The fact that the Iranian government was anti-Baha’i made it difficult for Ashkan and his sister Setareh, who was likewise very intelligent, receive the intellectual training they needed. To advance the future of their two bright and deserving children, their parents decided to leave Iran for Austria in late 2001. Nine months later, the United States of America welcomed his family in September of 2002.

Ashkan’s new life started in Seattle, WA. One step ahead, Ashkan had studied the 9th grade curriculum during the waiting months in Austria. He was directly admitted to 10th grade at Inglemoor High School. In high school he was an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America club (FBLA) and was also a vital member of the Environmental Protection group. As a member of FBLA, he attended the state conference and earned 5th place honors. He also received a certificate from the National Honor Roll because of his superior school and community involvement and success. On top of it all, Ashkan maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated in 2005.

He was accepted to the University of Washington in pursuit of an architectural major. Ashkan later changed his major to Psychology.

Ashkan started to work as a part time employee at the Plywood Supply Company in 12th grade. His bonding relationship with the company’s employees continued to the last days of his life. From the summer of 2008 to the end of his prolific life, Ashkan volunteered at the Crisis Clinic. He was a very dedicated and passionate worker. In the summer of 2009 at the University of Washington, Ashkan volunteered his services to two research labs: Early Childhood Cognition and Project 1, 2, 3 Go. He was also a TA for A.C.E.’s World Language Program, teaching Farsi language and Persian culture to Seattle area youth. During the camps, Ashkan became famous for “Ashkan’s group” since he undertook the project of making a separate curriculum for the advanced students on very short notice. Despite the short two weeks we had during this camp, the students formed a close bond with him. The Persian camp could not have asked for a better TA. He was truly an amazing and caring teacher, with a strong desire to positively impact his student’s learning process.

Ashkan Fathi passed away on August 9, 2009.