For the third year in a row, Al-Huda School has produced a statewide champion. This year, that student is 4th-grader Nusaybah Jemil.
Organized by the Maryland Municipal League, this annual contest challenges 4th graders across Maryland to reimagine their city 90 years into the future— drawing 891 submissions from over 58 schools statewide.
Nusaybah’s essay proposed a future where smart technology protects one of the region’s most beloved natural landmarks. “If I were mayor, I would protect the Kenwood Cherry Blossoms. People have been celebrating the start of spring by walking through those cherry blossom trees for over 100 years,” she wrote.
“The other topics were about music, and since this is an Islamic school, I picked the cherry blossom trees. And I always have fun when I see them,” Nusaybah explained.
“I am so proud of Nusaybah. She is a hardworking and dedicated student, and this achievement is truly well deserved,” said her 4th-grade teacher, Sr. Amber Qayyum.
Nusaybah follows 2025 winner Spogmai Wali and 2024 winner Hazeezah Azeez in a growing legacy of young civic leaders shaped at Al-Huda School. To future essay applicants, Nusaybah said, “Work hard, and you’ll learn from your mistakes.
In shaa Allah, her essay will appear in The Local, a publication reaching all 161 towns and cities of Maryland.
May Allah grant her success, keep her firm in her deen, and make her a source of light and benefit for her community. Ameen!
Her vision earned her a spot among 11 winners at the Maryland State House; the only Muslim student honored by House of Delegates Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk and Maryland Mayors Association President Jeannine James.
