DETROIT — Shake Tanvir Ahmed, a student in Trine University’s Master of Science in
business analytics degree program, recently received several honors for his activism
on behalf of the Rohingya people.
He received the Dr. Wakar Uddin Award 2023 after performing solo as a mime in New
York City’s Times Square as part of a three-day event organized by the Arakan Rohingya
Union (ARU) and Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA).
On Oct. 14, he was presented the George K. Campbell Scholarship at Glen Terrace Caterers
in Brooklyn, New York.
He received the Best Actor award from Shilpangon Theatre Festival 2023 for his performance
in “Oedipus Rex” at Levittown Hall in Long Island, New York, on Sept. 24.
A representative of Blackflame Theatre, the theatre company Tanvir founded, accepted
the Japan-Bangla Peace Award-2023 for creative acting on his behalf in a ceremony
held Aug. 6, “Hiroshima Day-2023,” at the Liberation Memorial Auditorium of the Institute
of Diploma Engineers Building (IDEB) in Bangladesh.
“I felt honored to receive these special awards,” Tanvir said. “It will inspire me
to do better. I want to make the world a better place, and these awards encourage
me to do so.”
Tanvir currently resides in New York and studies at Trine University’s Detroit education
center. He said he was drawn to the United States by the diversity and innovation
of its theatre scene.
He also wants to work in business while maintaining a successful acting career. The
quality of the education at Trine attracted him to the university.
In addition to founding the Blackflame Theatre in Bangladesh, Tanvir has performed
with other theatre groups in that nation. He also has worked in TV and movies.
Tanvir has participated in events held in the United Kingdom, Canada, Thailand, Singapore,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, China and India, as well as the
United States.
Trine University’s Class of 2024 saw 99.1% of its members obtain their desired career outcome within six months of graduation, continuing a 12-year streak of employment and graduate school placement averaging greater than 99%.
Low-income residents or those with disabilities or limited English proficiency can get their taxes prepared and filed electronically at no cost this spring through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program hosted by Trine University.