Island Park Alumnus Arwa Mokdad Returns to School For Middle East Culture Lesson

Mercer Island, WA, April 8, 2025 - Island Park alumnus and MIHS Class of 2018 graduate Arwa Mokdad returned to Island Park this afternoon for a Middle East Culture Lesson presentation for third, fourth and fifth graders at the school.

Arwa is a Middle East analyst who is currently working on her doctorate at Oxford.

Island Park fourth grade teacher Shelley Huffaker, who was Arwa’s fifth grade teacher, organized the visit.

“I contacted Arwa because it is Arab American History Month and she is just someone that is amazing and has always been on my mind,” said Huffaker. “She is a very bright person, has always been successful, and I think she represents our district just beautifully.”

“My favorite email I’ve ever received from my fifth grade teacher Ms. Huffaker, saying I’ve been thinking about you and I think it would be cool if you come and speak to the students. By chance I happened to be back home for break and the stars aligned on this one,” said Mokdad.

April is National Arab American Heritage Month and Arwa’s visit is an opportunity to recognize this important month, which falls within Standard 4 of the Social-Emotional Learning Standards of the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).  

“I am going to be talking to them about the Middle East in general. Culture. Religion. Languages. There are 3.5 million Middle Eastern Americans. Who are these people? They are our neighbors and this is just a way for them to connect with that,” continued Mokdad.

“Arwa’s trying to bring understanding of Arab Americans, Arabs, and the Middle East to people in the United States. Arwa wants to create understanding and more acceptance of other perspectives and I want my students to be able to see that. She was so happy to make this presentation to students,” continued Huffaker.  

The second slide in Arwa’s presentation is a photo of her and her father at Oxford. The photo was taken in front of a building and tree at the school made famous in the Harry Potter movies. When Arwa asked the fifth grade students if they recognized the building and tree, the room went instantly quiet and then became suddenly loud when students figured out where the photo was taken and shared that information with classmates who did not know where the photo was taken. The fifth graders were duly impressed with Arwa’s school connection to Harry Potter.