A STUDENT at Kingston University who died when a passenger plane was shot down in Iran will be honoured with a new scholarship in her name.

The the Niloufar Ebrahim Scholarship in Memory of Flight PS752 Victims will support an outstanding international Masters student to study at the University.

A fund to raise money for the scholarship has been set up by Kingston University and Nifoular's family, with friends, course mates and members of the public invited to donate.

The KU Backer aims to raise £5,000 for the scholarship. Nearly 10% of this has been donated, at the time of writing.

Nifoular, 34 and her husband Saeed Tahmasebi Khademasad, 35, were two of the 176 passengers and crew to lose their lives when Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by surface-to-air missiles shortly after take-off in Tehran in 2020.

The duo were travelling to London to begin their new lives as a married couple, having celebrated their wedding with family in a ceremony two weeks earlier.

Nifoular had been due to attend her graduation ceremony for her masters degree in Occupational and Business Psychology at the University.

At a memorial service for her in February 2020, course mate Alice Mukabalisa said: "Niloufar was kind to everyone.

"Even when we worked in groups, she was always so motivated and worked so hard and we all respected her for that.

"It breaks my heart that she wasn't there to graduate with all of us. She will always be remembered among her friends and all the people who loved her."

A statement on the KU Backer reads: "Niloufar was determined to complete her Masters in Occupational and Business Psychology so that she could improve the lives and aspirations of people through their work.

"She was passionate about helping and caring for others, having undertaken charity work for not-for-profit international development organisation Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) alongside her studies.

"To continue her legacy, The Niloufar Ebrahim Scholarship in Memory of Flight PS752 Victims is launching to support an international postgraduate student in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences with partial funding of tuition fees.

"The family is continuing to campaign for those who lost their lives as active members of The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims."

Professor Javier Ortega, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, said: "Niloufar touched the lives of so many staff and students.

"Although I did not personally know her, many of my colleagues did and they remember her as an enthusiastic, engaged student with a real sense of fun, who cared deeply about others and was a popular member of her cohort.

"We are delighted, with the support of her family, to be able to provide opportunities for others who share Niloufar's passion and ambition to study at the University through this scholarship in her memory."

Read more about the scholarship fund at kubacker.hubbub.net/p/Niloufar-Scholarship/pitch/

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