Eighteen-year-old Rohan Malik-Hamirani, a senior at Parkersburg High School, is an active participant in serving his community. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Eighteen-year-old Rohan Malik-Hamirani, a senior at Parkersburg High School, is an active participant in serving his community.

From tutoring his fellow students in school, making stuffed animals and handing them out to children in pediatric wards, to serving food to first responders, he has done it all.

Malik-Hamirani referred to himself as an “advocate” for one particular cause.

“I have been an advocate against drug addiction in our area, especially amongst school students and have proposed forming a Recovery High School in West Virginia,” he said.

According to the Association of Recovery Schools, recovery high schools are secondary schools designed specifically for students in recovery from substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders.

The Malik-Hamirani family at a wedding. Bottom from left, Rhea Malik-Hamirani, Dr. Rabina Malik-Hamirani and Dr. Mirza Hamirani, top from left, Murad Malik-Hamirani and Rohan Malik-Hamirani. (Photo Provided)

He also volunteered with Jobs and Hope, a state-funded program designed to provide support services.

“During my time [there] I have facilitated recovering addicts in getting their ID and driver’s licenses. I also helped them fill out their FAFSA, sign up for courses and training,” Malik-Hamirani said.

He learned about service from his parents, Dr. Rabina Malik-Hamirani and Dr. Mirza Hamirani, he said.

“They are both very compassionate and have taught us all to help others by their personal examples,” he said. “I hope to follow in their footsteps and help people either as a lawyer, policy maker or analyst in the future.”

Malik-Hamirani also has many academic achievements, Recently, he was chosen as a candidate for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program through the U.S. Department of Education.

Rohan Malik-Hamirani and his sister Rhea walk with their German Shepherd Hazel on Marietta’s River Trail. (Photo Provided)

“It is one of the highest honors received by high school students based on academic success, leadership and service to school and community,” he said.

Approximately 161 finalists are chosen from 4,000 applications each year, according to the Department of Education website. Malik-Hamirani was one of 64 from West Virginia. Finalists will be recognized with a U.S. President Scholars medallion and be recognized in a online National Recognition Program this summer.

Malik-Hamirani has challenged himself with rigorous Advanced Placement classes throughout his high school career.

“Every core class I have taken has either been honors or AP. I have taken 12 AP courses and many honors courses,” he said.

He also has completed college level courses outside of school including a year-long course on quantum computing at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, economics and leadership through Yale University, and programming and advanced writing through Johns Hopkins University.

While not pursuing academics, Malik-Hamirani has also participated in athletic pursuits. He has trained in two types of martial arts, Tang Soo Do and Jiu Jitsu, and was a member of the PHS soccer and crew teams. In more casual contexts, he also enjoys walking his German Shepherd, Hazel.

After graduation, Rohan plans to attend Harvard University and major in economics. His sister, Rhea, is currently studying at Harvard Medical School.

Kristen Hainkel can be reached at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com