Class of 1957 Scholar Award
2023-2024 Scholars
Sadeen Al Ziyad
Social Welfare and Psychology majors
I immigrated to the United States from Jordan when I was 9 years old. Growing up Jordanian and assimilating to American customs was an absolute culture shock. Coming from an Arab culture, mental health was stigmatized and I want to play a role in changing that for my community and others who struggle with the same issue. I am deeply passionate about advocacy and community building. At UW, I am part of the Champions Program Committee, where I utilize my creative abilities as a social media creator. My responsibilities within the committee include providing feedback and indirectly supporting students who were previously in the foster care system or have experienced unaccompanied homelessness. I also tutored in a low-income neighborhood and found my love for working with youth. I hope to work with youth as part of my career. Before entering university, I was a leader in a grassroots organization called the Jackson Park Youth Coalition (JPYC), where I was a part of advocating for better living conditions for low-income residents in Seattle. This work has shaped me to be resilient and appreciative of collective activism. Continuing my advocacy into university looked like journalism, I wrote about JPYC for KUOW’s Radioactive program. I have high aspirations to become a counselor, using my lived experience to provide representation for those from similar backgrounds to mine. I applied for this scholarship to help fund my study abroad program in Jordan, focusing on counseling and humanitarian action, where I will be interning. I am eager to learn more about counseling and to visit my home country for the first time since I immigrated here. Counseling can be emotionally taxing, and I am looking forward to gaining experience in the field to determine if I have the emotional capacity to pursue it as a career.
Sadeen’s short and long term goals: My near goal is to graduate with a double major in Psychology and social welfare. My longer-term goal is to get a master’s degree in social work.
Sadeen’ tips: Be authentic to yourself and share your lived experienced. It is important to strategically share your story. You do not have to provide every detail (especially if you are mentioning a very personal experience), you only need to provide enough information to showcase your skills. Through sharing your work and volunteering experiences, it is important to point out what you learned from that experience and how it aligns with your values. Be sure to paint the full picture of who you are and what you aspire to do. This could look like sharing the dates and duration of your experience. I highly recommend having a couple people look over your application, it is best to ask a mentor who knows you well.
Su Cho
Neuroscience major
My name is Su Cho and I am majoring in neuroscience at UW as a third year student. My interest in neuroscience, mental health, and neuropsychiatry started when I was little. I was a reserved introvert and especially sensitive to sound who liked observing others closely and questioning diversity of thoughts, effect of childhood experiences on adult mental health, and relationship between how people behave and wiring of their brain in addition to synaptic plasticity- how people change in response to the changes in their neurons and connections between them. Getting the best out of my time at UW, there have been various opportunities to serve others, develop soft skills, and grow my passion. Mainly, I served as a mentor for underclassmen interested in neuroscience major and peer facilitator for a neuroscience lab course, undergraduate research assistant at the Soden Lab, and worked with underserved high school students as a college and career readiness intern. I applied for this scholarship because it came to me as a great opportunity to articulate my accomplishments while receiving the support I need as a college student. It will help facilitate my goal as I prepare to apply for graduate programs after I graduate soon and step toward my goal of becoming a healthcare provider.
Su’s near and long term goals: My career goal is to contribute as a healthcare provider and/or be involved in biomedical research. In the end, I want to fully take advantage of my field of expertise, advanced trainings and knowledge, especially medicine, to come up with creative ways to solve problems and difficulties that people face everyday.
Su’s tips: Pay close attention to what the prompts and scholarship committees are asking and reflect back on your life and experiences to find relevant events/ activities you can elaborate on! Do not think about how competitive it can be, apply with your best efforts and see what happens!
Mei Ying Harper-Smith
Accounting major
My name is Mei Ying Harper-Smith, and I am entering my third year at the University of Washington, pursuing a major in Accounting at the business school. My decision to study accounting has been shaped by personal interests, experiences, and aspirations. From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by numbers and their intersection with public policy. This curiosity led me to explore various career paths, but the nature of accounting captured my attention. The ability to analyze complex financial data while understanding its implications on business strategies and societal frameworks resonated with me. Throughout my academic journey, I’ve encountered inspiring mentors and supportive communities that have further fueled my passion for accounting. Professors at the University of Washington, along with RSOs, have played a significant role in shaping my academic and professional development. Despite financial challenges, including being the youngest of seven children in a single-income household, I’ve remained resilient in pursuing my educational goals. To finance my education, I’ve taken on various responsibilities, including working part-time as a math tutor and seeking out scholarships and grants.
Being a recipient of The Class of 1957 Scholar Award will provide me the opportunity to fully dedicate myself to my studies this upcoming school year. My educational and career aspirations revolve around accounting and its applications in various fields. I aim to utilize my skills to make a positive impact in the world. This scholarship will play a role in achieving these ambitions, allowing me to engage in extracurricular activities. In terms of personal interests, I appreciate community service and volunteer work. I enjoy gymnastics and have a passion for reading autobiographies. One of my favorite books is “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah!
Mei Ying’s near and long term goals: After graduating next spring, I plan to complete a Master of Science in Taxation at the Foster School of Business. I aim to gain experience as a tax accountant before pursuing a Juris Doctor with a concentration in Tax Law. This will help me become an expert in tax matters. My long-term goal is to work in corporate tax and eventually transition to tax reform in the government, addressing socioeconomic wealth disparities and promoting equity through effective tax policies and wealth redistribution.
Mei Ying’s tips: Write from your heart!
Linda Wang
Biochemistry and Public Health-Global Health majors
I am a first-generation student and sophomore majoring in Biochemistry and Public Health-Global Health, with a minor in Chemistry. I am passionate about medicine and interested in learning how to reduce the impacts of health disparities in different communities. I hope to become a future physician to help better serve the underserved. On campus, I serve as the President of the Pre-Physician Scientist Club (PPSC) and Director of Shadowing Operations for Healthcare Alternative Spring Break (HCASB). I am an undergraduate researcher in the Wood Lab at Harborview Medical Center studying Mycoplasma genitalium. During my weekends, I also volunteer at Harborview. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling and hiking. I was motivated to apply for this scholarship to help fund my tuition. I want to thank the UW alumni scholarship donors, as this award will allow me to dedicate my time to my studies and start saving up for medical school.
Linda’s near and long term goals: My goal upon completing my undergraduate studies is to pursue a medical degree alongside an MPH or PhD. This aspiration stems from my personal experience navigating the healthcare system as the daughter of immigrants. I hope to become a future physician dedicated to serving patients and combating health disparities.
Linda’s tips: Be authentic in your personal statement and share how your story is impacted by your experiences and activities outside of academics. Don’t be afraid to reach out to scholarship advisors for help!
Scholarship Archive
Browse our archive for more UW Class of 1957 Scholar Award history.