Congratulations, Class of 2020!
FIUTS is thrilled to celebrate the class of 2020! From leading important initiatives with the Student Board, to facilitating events around the Puget Sound Region, to completing social justice work through a visiting program, our students have accumulated many remarkable stories and experiences. As they graduate and embark on their next journey, we congratulate them on all of their accomplishments!
- See below to view FIUTS grad profiles from the class of 2020 -
Aakriti Thakur
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Field of Study: Masters In Mechanical Engineering
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Worked has the committee member in the FIUTS Cultural Fest 2019. Also, a participant in the PenPal Program '2019.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Attending the planning meetings for FIUTS Cultural Fest!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
To live an independent life that I'll create for myself.
Favorite Quote:
"Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it." — M. Scott Peck
Aaron Su
Hometown: Sammamish, WA
Major(s): Computer Science
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I was a facilitator starting my first quarter at UW and I have volunteered on and off as a facilitator since!
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
I am really bad at dancing, but throwing a dance party on the boat cruise during international student orientation was the most fun thing I think I did at UW. At the very least it was the most embarrassing :)
What are you most excited for after graduation?
I am starting my full-time job as a software engineer at Zillow at the end of June. I have the ability to work from home so I am planning to go back home and spend lots of time with my family since they live on the eastern side of Washington.
Advice for future students:
If you have to make a decision where you can limit the downside and the upside is limitless, always do it.
Achref cherif
Hometown: Tunisia
Major(s): Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Pharmaceutical industry (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
SUSI on Youth, Education and Closing the skills gap 2019
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Celebrating the 4th of July with SUSI participants and University of Washington Student ambassadors in Gas works park.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Finally become a Doctor of Pharmacy and practice in Hospitals, Labs and Pharmaceutical companies.
Favorite Quote:
"I am realistic. To be realistic is to prefer a modest reform which allows another, rather than an impossible miracle.” — Habib Bourguiba, First President of Tunisia
Alvin Fu
Hometown: Taiwan
Major(s): Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Microbiology (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
International student
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Getting paid for work instead pay for doing hard work.
Advice for future students:
Be yourself, who else is better qualified?
Biashikila
Hometown: Lubumbashi
Major(s): Industrial Engineering
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Working!
Favorite Quote:
“A winner is a dreamer who never gives up.” — Nelson Mandela
Ehler Win
Hometown: Seattle, Thailand
Major(s): Medical Anthropology & Global Health, International Studies (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
SUSI program, Pen Pal, Student Board.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
CulturalFest Performance Showcase and seeing family and friends in one place!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
To have no homework and travel
Advice for future students:
Be yourself. Don't be afraid to try new things, meet new friends and show yourself grace <3
Fanqi Shi
Hometown: Xuzhou, China
Major(s): Biology
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Peer Facilitator and Global Gala Committee member.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Global Gala & all the hiking we did together.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Starting my full time job!
Favorite Quote:
“Passion is contagious.” -Unknown
Fia Hoque
Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Major(s): Chemistry, Marine Biology (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I was in the FIUTS student board 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 as the Marketing Co-chair and then Treasurer, respectively.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
FIUTS student board retreats!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
New adventures and graduate school.
Advice for future students:
Never stop believing in yourself and working hard, it pays off!
Flynn Liu
Hometown: Guangzhou, China
Major(s): Math, Info (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I attended 2 Culturalfests and some trips.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Trip to a brewery.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Graduate school!
Advice for future students:
Get involved in undergraduate research!
Judith Liu
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Major(s): CFRM
How are you involved with FIUTS?
First Meeting in 2019/9/16
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
The Nutcracker.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Travel in US if peaceful.
Advice for future students:
Join FIUTS' activities as many as possible, otherwise, it would be virtual due to unexpected global epidemic.
Keivon Gunn
Hometown: Euclid, Ohio
Major(s): Geography, Info (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Facilitator, work study, SLCI Camp Counselor, and International Welcome Weeks.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
My favorite FIUTS memory is the Mt Rainier Hike. My group hiked the entire trail around the mountain and arrived back second. As we climbed in elevation, we were walking through the cloud becoming a thundercloud. Luckily, we did not get struck by lightning as breathing at that altitude was becoming more difficult. As the group descended, ice hikers were going to the peak. My group managed to be the second one back due to one group getting turned around because of trail closures. A rescue party was sent, but they arrived soon after. They were on a different trail that the rescue party did go on. So we had to rescue the rescue party now. All this with no service.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Moving to Arizona possibly.
Advice for future students:
Develop your non academic and interpersonal skills. Those skills will get you much further than a degree alone.
Keshvi Nandu
Hometown: Gujarat, India
Major(s): Business Administration - Finance, Economics (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I was a participant in SUSI - Youth, Education and Closing Skills Gap in 2019.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
My favorite FIUTS memory is the final dinner, the paper plate awards and learning how to say proper goodbyes through activities which was done by Era.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
I am excited to start my career in Finance sector. I want to work for a couple of years and understand the industry as a whole. I am also excited about the challenges that it will put forth me that will help me grow as an individual.
Favorite Quote:
"Umbrella can't stop the rain, but can make us stand in rain. Confidence may not bring success, but it gives us power to face any challenge in Life." — Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Kseniia Temkina
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Major(s): Linguistics, French Language (minor), Sociolinguistics (minor), and Translation (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I first attended FIUTS events as a first-year international student and later did an internship (in Winter 2020).
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Helping prepare for the CulturalFest as an intern!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
New opportunities and new people!
Favorite Quote:
"My life is my message." — Mahatma Gandhi
kori carter
Hometown: Kansas City
Major(s): Community, Environment & Planning, Real Estate (Minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Served as the student programs assistant.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
I have so many memories working with FIUTS, I would be doing a disservice by only providing one. I will say FIUTS has always been my source of entertainment throughout my journey at the UW. The open conversations met with all the comedic personalities in the office always served me well. I loved my time with FIUTS and all the many jobs I was dealt with lol. Working with FIUTS always felt like a partnership, we all worked together, laughed together and simply got stuff done! I am proud to have been fortunate enough to work with such a dynamic team for the last 2 years!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Starting a full time career that will provide me the necessary tools needed to project me into my dream career!
Advice for future students:
No matter what is going on around you with all the distractions in life, keep focused on your intentions and that will get you through the most trying of times.
layla jamil
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Major(s): Neuroscience, Music (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I started out as a FIUTS CulturalFest performer and quickly became a SUSI Ambassador and pen pal. For my last year as a student at UW, I joined the FIUTS Student Board as the Treasurer and Fundraising Committee Co-Chair.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Going to the UW President's Mansion for Holiday Tea!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
I look forward to traveling the world, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures first hand!
Advice for future students:
Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.
Mansi Mehrotra
Hometown: Pune, India
Major(s): Information Management
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Food!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Starting a new career.
Favorite Quote:
"Make your life spectacular" — Robin Williams
Noura Al-Kaabi
Hometown: Doha, Qatar
Major(s): Political Science: Political Economy, Middle Eastern Studies (minor), Human Rights (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
FIUTS facilitator, 2x SUSI Ambassador 2019 Summer, 2020 Winter.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Celebrating the Fourth of July with the SUSI participants in 2019. We had a lot of fun at Gas Works park dancing to the music, eating good food, and spending time with each other before they had to leave. Also, it was my first time seeing the celebrations because I always go back home in the summer.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
I am excited to be working for the Foreign Affairs Ministry back home. Also, I am looking forward to continuing to travel to new and different places all around the world.
Favorite Quote:
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Pongkhi Bujorbarua
Hometown: Guwahati, Assam, India
Field of Study: PhD in Educational Psychology
Rachel Greenwood
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Major(s): International Studies
How are you involved with FIUTS?
SUSI Ambassador, Ehime Ambassador, Facilitator, Student Board (Expo Co-Chair, 2018-2019; President, 2019-2020).
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Student Board retreats.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
I am excited to continue my passion for cross-cultural understanding that I explored through FIUTS and move to a new city.
Advice for future students:
I hope future students are able to dive into FIUTS and take advantage of the amazing programs that they offer. FIUTS has taught me so much about myself, and I hope other students are able to have that same experience.
SHIRLEY CHEUNG
Hometown: Hong Kong
Major(s): Economics and Education
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Student Board, Intern.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
CulturalFest.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Traveling!
Favorite Quote:
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
Shraman Kumar Bohra
Hometown: Mysore, India
Major(s): Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Study of U. S Institutes - June 2019.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
This is so hard!!! What if I sum it up like this- the visiting program was only for 5 weeks but an association with FIUTS is for a life time!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Well honestly, I am really excited for the new opportunities and challenges life has got to offer me.
Advice for future students:
Welcome everyday with a smile. Grab all the opportunities that comes your way. Don't give up! If you are heartbroken, remember that broken crayons can still color!!
SIMRAN BHATIA
Hometown: Gurgaon, India
Major(s): Informatics, statistics (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Student Board, Facilitator.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Student Board Retreat!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
New challenges!
Favorite Quote:
“On the difficult days, when the world is on your shoulders, remember that diamonds are made under the weight of the mountains.” — Beau Taplin
Taina Lorenz
Hometown: Edmonton, Canada
Major(s): Music Education, Cognition, Wind Conducting (minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
Participated in welcome events and some campus events.
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Aquarium tour and taking the bus downtown the first time with the FIUTS team.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Being a UW grad in my home country and continuing my work as a scholar and community leader.
Favorite Quote:
“We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Give us the tools, and we shall succeed.” — Winston Churchill
Tania Algebori
Hometown: Calgary, Canada
Major(s): Political Science: International Security, Middle Eastern Studies (Minor)
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I went to a lot of events and I was a pen pal for four years!
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
I loved meeting my pen pals after getting to know them all quarter, and attending the orientation for international and exchange students. Im still friends with so many people from that very first day!
What are you most excited for after graduation?
Exploring different career paths and seeing what fits me best.
Advice for future students:
Advice: be open to new experiences! University is about more than just academics.
Teresa Tippens
Hometown: Durham, NC
Field of Study: Master of Public Administration
How are you involved with FIUTS?
I was the Orientation Coordinator for Fall 2019, and I've been Visiting Programs Assistant since then!
What is your favorite FIUTS memory?
Making everyone in the Pen laugh over a silly youtube video about people failing at tic-tac-toe.
What are you most excited for after graduation?
NO MORE STANDARDIZED TESTS (unless I decide to reenter academia...)
Favorite Quote:
“You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.” — Grace Lee Boggs