On Christmas Eve, Tegwa Fadl Alla sent an e-mail to Salisbury TV station WBOC, which annually coordinates the local Jefferson Award program that recognizes the community’s unheralded altruists.
The Arabic teacher nominated fellow educator Muna Elobaid, drawing attention to Elobaid’s work in assisting Sudanese immigrants’ assimilation into life in America.
“As a migrant community,” Fadl Alla wrote, “our members – especially newcomers – need a lot of support. Muna has always been the first person to reach out and provide help.”
Elobaid is a computer science lab specialist at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where she also is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Business, Management and Accounting. She teaches a course called Computer-Concepts/Applications, according to Dr. Leesa Thomas-Banks, the department’s chairwoman.
Fadl Alla noted Elobaid uses her technological savvy to “open enormous opportunities for our community members,” including “guiding and monitoring immigrant students to understand the system and make best decisions regarding their studies.”
Much of Elobaid’s volunteerism revolves around life at the Islamic Society of Princess Anne.
“She takes a leading role,” Fadl Alla wrote, “in organizing Ramadan Iftar (a post-fasting meal) at our Islamic Center.”
She also has helped organize trips to metropolitan areas where Sudanese gather to express frustrations with and protest conditions in the African nation, which has endured internal political strife the past several years.
WBOC is a local partner with the American Institute for Public Service, which has handed out awards named for President Thomas Jefferson since 1972. The late Jackie Kennedy was instrumental in forming the organization to recognize people working selflessly on the frontline of community service.
In the era of social distancing, WBOC journalist Bill Mich called Elobaid instead of the pre-pandemic practice of surprising the honoree with a visit to deliver the news – and then did a follow-up virtual interview.
“I take (on) the problem as if it is my problem,” Elobaid said. “I ask God to help me resolve, or help them.”
“When somebody has a problem or an issue and it is resolved, I would be so happy,” she said.
Fadl Alla also was interviewed.
“She helped me get a job,” Fadl Alla said. “She does that for everyone.”
WBOC noted on its Facebook page “Muna received dozens of nominations from those in her community. Those nominations, time and time again, praise Muna for her tireless effort in helping Sudanese people settle into the Somerset County community.”
Past national Jefferson Award winners include Gen. Colin Powell, President Jimmy Carter, tennis great Arthur Ashe, actor Paul Newman and broadcaster Walter Cronkite.
Elobaid, who began work at UMES in 2008, is the first individual employee to be recognized since Clifton H. Harcum a decade ago. UMES electrician Donald Ballard was a Jefferson nominee in 2019 with his brothers for collective philanthropy through their popular car-enthusiast organization known as the Ballard Boyz.
