Stuyvesant’s Muslim Student Association Takes on MIST Nationals

Hifza Kaleem is a Features editor for The Spectator.  

After winning first place at New York’s annual Muslim Interscholastic Tournament (MIST) regionals, Stuyvesant’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) continued their streak by winning first place at Nationals. At this tournament, held from July 26 to July 28 at the Georgia Institute of Technology, MSA members showed off their competitive edge and hard work through a series of rigorous events. Moreover, two of the top three overall competitors, alumnus Shahriyar Rohan (‘24) and junior Hifza Kaleem, were members of Stuyvesant’s MSA. 

MIST offers a rare chance for Muslim students from across the country to come together to compete as a team and receive accolades for their dedication to academics and faith. They are able to participate in a wide range of competitions including events in the arts, bracket-based trivia-style tournaments, creative group projects, written works, and general knowledge of the Quran. 

Stuy MSA prepared intensely to perform well—even inviting their predecessors to mentor them. “We had these super focused MIST meetings where we practiced a ton and made sure to stick to our deadlines. It wasn’t just about prepping on our own—our alumni, who had already been through MIST, came back to help us out [...] we looked out for each other the whole time. It wasn’t just about winning solo; it was about all of us succeeding together as a team,” senior and MSA President Fabiha Khan said.

Stuy MSA was motivated by their desire to make a positive social impact through various fundraising events, such as bake sales and a henna event. Senior and MSA member Khadijah Shoaab participated in the Humanitarian Services category. “With five other people, you choose a country that's currently going through a crisis. We’ve chosen Sudan for every year that I’ve done it. The goal is to create an Instagram page and try to raise a lot of money for your country. All the money is donated to the website Islamic Relief USA,” Shoaab said.

Junior and MSA Sisters’ Events Coordinator Hifza Kaleem, who was another member of the Humanitarian Services team, placed third as an overall competitor. As for individual events, Kaleem participated in two. One of the competitions tested participants on their knowledge of the personal memoir My Father Was a Freedom Fighter: Gaza’s Untold Story by Ramzy Baroud. 

Kaleem also wrote and submitted her own piece for the short fiction competition, placing second in the event. “There are some submissions due a couple weeks before MIST; short fiction is one of them. I wrote a short draft and reached out to the president at the time. Friends in and out of MSA helped me edit my writing,” Kaleem said.

Stuy MSA’s growth and achievements can be attributed to the tight-knit bond they have as a community. “We are a friend group. We are a family. I’m now in college, and I will forever remember and miss the family we had at the Stuyvesant MSA,” former president and alumnus Sadat Ahmed (‘24) said. “Winning feels great, but having a group of people want the best for you and support you every step of the way feels greater.”

Despite competing against students of nearly 17 schools, MIST fostered a welcoming community. “I love that even though we’re all, in a sense, competing against each other, we’re not hostile towards each other,” junior and Stuy MSA member Aasha Zamir said.

In addition, MIST allowed MSA members to gain new perspectives and to learn from other Muslim students across the country. “MIST opens your eyes to everything. Especially since we’re in a Stuyvesant mindset, there’s always something to learn from someone. You kind of have a new way of viewing things that you might not have known otherwise,” Zamir said.

As the excitement of competition settled, the bonding with their peers and students across the entire country that made MIST so memorable. “People hear MIST and they assume it's a religious thing, and religion is a huge factor, but there is so much more to it. It’s a great way to connect with people,” Kaleem said.