Teen born in Iraq graduates at top of class in Hermiston

HERMISTON, Ore. (AP) — When Marvin Hozi walks across the stage to receive his diploma, he knows exactly where his next steps will lead.

Hozi, one of 10 Hermiston High School valedictorians this year and an Iraqi by birth, has already staked the next two stops in his academic career.

The future computer science major has plans to attend George Fox University in Newberg, then pursue a master's degree at Stanford. But before rising to the top of Hermiston's Class of 2018, Hozi endured challenges many students can't imagine.

"I lived in Baghdad (Iraq) from birth to 2006," he said. When he was six, his family fled from the violence and war in his home country to Jordan, and about a year later came to the United States as refugees.