Aghnie Abi Rafeh shares her legacy with future LAU alumnae
Aghnie and Farouk Abi Rafeh and their three daughters Rania, Kareen, and Raya, have created an endowed scholarship fund for young Druze women at LAU in Aghnie’s honor. Aghnie believed deeply in the power of education for women, and although she is now affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, her family honors and remembers that commitment with the creation of the Aghnie Farouk Abi Rafeh Honorary Endowment Scholarship Fund, established in the fall of 2024 with a generous initial donation.
We asked Rania, Kareen and Raya about their mother’s views on education and what she would say to the recipients of the scholarship in the future. Their thoughtful letter to us has been edited slightly for length.
Grasp Every Opportunity to Learn
Our mother’s passion for education was most expressed when driving us to school every day. She would remind us that our education was a privilege. “I want you to grasp every opportunity to learn. Many people can’t get access to an education, and you are very lucky. Education is everything.” Her words resonated within us, inspiring us to want to learn, to ask questions, to think critically, and to be curious. Her wisdom wasn’t just a collection of teachings—it’s a way of life that has continued to shape who we are today, both personally and professionally.
Education Makes Dreams Possible
She was the second eldest of eight daughters, coming of age in the 1960s, a time when expectations for women were clear: keep the house in order, help raise your sisters, and above all—find a husband. Education was not a priority for her parents, and like many young women of her generation, she was married off at a young age. But she refused to let that define her future. After enduring an abusive first marriage, she fought for her right to return to school, knowing that attaining an education would allow her to achieve her dreams. It was there, in her 20s, while pursuing a degree in art and design, a strong passion of hers, that she met our father, Farouk.
Ignite a Ripple Effect of Positive Change
Throughout her life, she remained committed to supporting and empowering other women. Her journey is a powerful reminder that education can ignite both personal success and a ripple effect of positive change in the community. Her resilience and determination to pursue an education enabled her to establish her own thriving business in the 1980s. In her honor, we are proud to preserve her legacy through a scholarship fund, allowing other women to follow the path she fought so hard to walk. Aghnie’s opportunity to learn instilled in her—and inspired in us—a deep sense of responsibility to pay it forward.
You Belong in Every Room
To a woman in the future receiving the Aghnie Abi Rafeh scholarship, we’d imagine our mother would say: “Be fearless in your pursuit of knowledge, courageous in your actions, and unwavering in your belief that you belong in every room, deserve every opportunity, and have the ability to achieve any future you desire. Know that you are part of a legacy of women who have fought for progress and have left a trail for you to follow, but more importantly, to build upon. This scholarship is just the beginning of the endless possibilities. Lastly, education is your power, your freedom, and your right—claim it with confidence and use it to shape the future you and your peers deserve.”
LAU is so grateful to the Abi Rafeh family for their generous gift. This scholarship will exist in perpetuity and will help ambitious young women succeed for generations to come.
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