The Iowa International Center will present four honorees with its Passport to Prosperity Award during its annual celebration on Sept. 22 in Parents Hall at Drake University. The award recognizes the significant contributions made to Iowa by immigrants and refugees to Iowa. The honorees are:

Dr. Rizwan Shah – Originally from India, Shah has spent 30 years caring for neglected children. Shah has previously served as director for both the Family Ecology Center and the Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Sachiko Tamura Murphy – Murphy has served as a Sister Cities commissioner and developed a Japanese language and culture program for elementary school students, as well as an exchange program linking Iowa students with Japanese host families.

Hicham Sibouih – Born in Morocco, Sibouih is a case manager and employment specialist for Catholic Charities. Sibouih has mentored refugee children and developed a workforce readiness course for Des Moines Area Community College.

Phoukham Tran – Tran came to Iowa as a refugee from Laos and joined the Des Moines Police Department in 1982. His career ended in August 2011 when he was hit by a drunken driver while on duty. Despite his challenges, he has remained a model of perseverance and determination.

Cost of the event is $50. To reserve tickets, email Executive Director Judith Conlin at jconlin@iowainternationalcenter.org. Information about Passport to Prosperity and the programs and services of the Iowa International Center can be found here.