CCF Scholar Hits a High Note

Mac Maflahi, CCF Scholar and QuestBridge Scholar, when he was a junior at Homewood High School, he earned a coveted third-chair position in Alabama’s All-State Band, making him one of the top trombonists in the state. But behind every note he plays is a story of resilience, sacrifice and relentless drive.

Mac’s family fled Yemen in 2016 during the country’s civil war. With his father already in the United States, the Maflahis spent a brief stint in Algeria while navigating the immigration process before arriving in America in 2018. Mac was in third grade at the time, and adjusting to life in Homewood brought 

overwhelming culture shock and a steep language barrier.

“We had to leave every single thing behind,” Mac said. “Everything was new. We did not know a lot of people and didn't speak English. Neither us nor my parents spoke English.” Check out the full article in the Homewood Star here.