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Cal Aggie Alumni Association

Cal Aggie Alumni Association
 

Seyedeh Sheida Hosseini




By Stephanie Towne ’11


Seyedeh Sheida Hosseini’s path to UC Davis was certainly not an easy one. After moving from Iran to the United States her junior year in high school, she had to learn a new culture and language in the midst of the college application process. However, with the support and encouragement of her family, Seyedeh overcame these obstacles and flourished both in and out of the classroom. “My family is the most important thing in my life,” she says. “They help me to pursue my goals and dreams.”

As an exceptional and driven student, Seyedeh was accepted to several different prestigious universities across the country. However, after carefully weighing her options, UC Davis clearly stood out as the best choice. “UC Davis is so full of opportunities,” she says. “I am able to be a great student, musician and athlete all at the same time here.”
 
Seyedeh started getting involved in many different activities before she even began her first classes. “The summer after graduating from high school, I started doing research optimizing aircraft performance with professor Jean-Jaqcues Chattot,” she says. That summer she was also invited to join the UC Davis Symphony. “The conductor really adopted me and helped me to learn all of the music” she explains. Seyedeh has even been a part of the UC Davis Badminton Club. “I played on the National Team back in Iran when I was younger, but now I get to play here for fun,” she says.
 
Seyedeh represents UC Davis internationally through her involvement with the Aggie Micro Aeronautics Team. “We represent UC Davis in international aero-design competitions where we build and buy airplanes,” she explains. “In a recent competition, we placed fifth overall out of many other institutions from around the world.” Seyedeh served as the one of team’s captains in 2010. Her responsibilities included managing meetings, organizing the team and planning fundraising.

Shortly after her acceptance to UC Davis, Seyedeh applied for and received a Mary Horton Scholarship. With four other sisters in undergraduate and graduate study at UC Davis, Seyedeh and her family have benefited significantly from the scholarship. “With four other tuitions to pay for in our family, and the rising costs of necessary books and supplies, this scholarship really helped out a lot," she explains. Seyedeh hopes to share the same generosity with future students. “I am so lucky to be able to attend a school like UC Davis,” she says. “I definitely want to help other students so they can have the same opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to enjoy.”

Seyedeh will graduate in 2013 with a double major in mechanical and aeronautical engineering. She aims to work as an engineer or designer for NASA. Click here to learn more about Cal Aggie Alumni Association scholarships or to make a donation.  


Posted May 2011