Welcome to Utah State University

Transcript

kay, everyone, we’re gonna kick things off with Sami. A recent graduate from the finance program and former student body president. He’s the perfect person to give us an intro to Utah State, and talk about what makes this school so special. All right, Sami, time to get the tour going.

– Hi, everyone! I wanna tell you some of my story, and give you an idea of what Utah State University is all about. I was born and raised in Ethiopia. and I came to Salt Lake City at the age of 11 with my family. My mother’s dream for me was to be able to attend college and find success in the United States. However, being in a first-generation immigrant family, I didn’t have the blueprint for college. When I arrived at Utah State, I wasn’t sure if I’d find success, but I quickly learned this was the perfect place for me. Although my cultural and ethnic background differed from most students and faculty, I never felt out of place. I found my home here at Utah State because of the university’s accepting and friendly nature helped me reach my highest potential as a student beyond what I thought was possible. Let me tell you a little about USU. It’s home to top-notch academics, great hands-on experience, and cutting edge research. As a student, I was able to see these high academic standards in my courses. For example, my international finance course was one of the most challenging and impactful classes I’ve taken. Getting that global perspective is extremely valuable. As Aggies, we are dedicated to improving the world around us. Aggies protect our nation’s water supply, help make the world a safer place during earthquakes, and even study how to grow plants in space. In my time at Utah State, I accomplished things I never would have imagined. Thanks to my friends, professors and mentors, I was elected as student body president for two consecutive years. I’m most proud of the work that I did in that role, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university’s commitment to bringing students back safely on campus during the fall of 2020 required significant amount of work. And I attended countless meetings to help determine classroom and safety policies. Being the only student in those high-level meetings required thoughtful consideration before making recommendations. I love you Utah State University, because all students who attend here have the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of background or previous educational experience. Utah State is truly a student centric university that is committed to student success beyond any other priorities. I hope my story, and the other Aggies you’re about to hear from, can show you how special this place truly is. And now back to you, Alex.

– Sami, what an awesome story. Thanks for sharing how Utah State became home away from home. You’re a great ambassador and success story for the university, best of luck in the future. Thanks again for that.