UMBC Junior Introduces President Obama Before Historic Speech

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Imagine having the honor of introducing the President of the United States before a history making speech.

Mary Bubala reports on one local student who got to do just that.

UMBC junior Sabah Muktar showed plenty of poise introducing President Obama before his remarks during an historic visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore this week.

Sabah, a biology major hoping to be a doctor one day caring for America's underprivileged, says the president's visit lays the ground work for breaking negative stereotypes of people of Muslim faith--like her.

RELATED: Obama Visits U.S. Mosque, Says Impression Of Muslims Distorted

"You are an inspiration, you are going to be a fantastic doctor," the president said to Muktar after her introduction.

"I was very pleased that our president was able to come visit our local mosque," said Muktar. "I was very pleased with how it was received and what it means to the Islamic Society of Baltimore."

Sabah says she met the president just moments before she introduced him.

"I talked to him backstage for about a minute, and he said good luck. He even signed my speech for good luck right before I went up," she said. "So we had a little convo right before I went up, and that was really nice."

And that piece of paper with her powerful words and the president's signature is a prized possession.

"Of course! I'm going to laminate it and frame it and keep it forever," said Muktar.

Sabah started attending the Baltimore Islamic Society when she was a junior at Pikesville High School.

The president's Baltimore County visit was his first to an American mosque.