The Azerbaijan Society of America proudly welcomes new member of Youth of ASA – AzeriNext.
The Azerbaijan Society of America proudly welcomes Aydan Shahbazli as a new member of Youth of ASA – AzeriNext.
The Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) is proud to welcome Aydan Shahbazli as the newest member of our growing Youth Club. A rising senior at Shaker High School in New York, Aydan brings with her a strong academic background, proven leadership experience, and a deep commitment to advancing cultural awareness and civic engagement among Azerbaijani-American youth.
With an impressive 97/100 unweighted GPA, Aydan is passionate about public policy and Russian & Eastern European studies fields she plans to pursue in college. She is also a member of the National French Honors Society and has demonstrated exceptional initiative in both volunteerism and youth leadership.
Aydan is the founder of BridgeAZ, a youth-driven initiative that connects Azerbaijani and English-speaking high school students to foster English language skills and cultural exchange. Her global outlook is reflected in her volunteer work tutoring Ukrainian students in English, and her leadership as Vice President of the UNICEF Club at her school. Notably, she participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionary of the Year campaign, where her team successfully raised $20,000 for cancer research and patient care.
In her dedication to service, Aydan has also volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House food bank and participated in Unified Sports programs for students with disabilities. Her cultural and community engagement efforts include interning at the National Carpet Museum of Azerbaijan, conducting a community poll among Azerbaijani immigrants in the U.S., and organizing college preparation seminars for Azerbaijani youth through the Azerbaijani Students and Alumni Platform (ASAP).
Inspired by ASA’s longstanding legacy, Aydan has expressed her enthusiasm for contributing to the organization’s mission of unity and cultural preservation. She has proposed several exciting youth initiatives, including:
Youth Ambassador Program – A leadership platform for high school and college students to serve as cultural representatives and lead educational and service-oriented projects.
Youth Newsletter or Social Media Team – A youth-led digital effort to amplify Azerbaijani-American voices, promote cultural awareness, and encourage civic participation.
Speaker Series / Career Spotlights – Virtual events featuring Azerbaijani-American professionals and scholars, designed to inspire students pursuing careers in international relations, public policy, medicine, and more.
We are thrilled to have Aydan join our Youth Club of ASA. Her commitment to community service, cultural advocacy, and youth empowerment reflects the values we hold dear. We look forward to supporting her vision and working together to foster the next generation of Azerbaijani-American leaders.
Aydan Shahbazli is the daughter of Dr. Rauf Shahbazov, a respected transplant surgery specialist based in Syracuse, NY.
The Azerbaijan Society of America is proud to recognize and uplift rising young leaders like Aydan, whose contributions are vital to building a vibrant, connected Azerbaijani-American community.
