Kousha Ashtiani Changizi

Kousha’s grasp of mathematics and the workings of computers has provided him with many opportunities outside the classroom, such as tutoring fellow students and repairing and maintaining computers here and, earlier, in his community in Iran. Charity work was emphasized in his high school, and while classmates ran food drives, Kousha’s team collected and repaired unused computers and electronic equipment, which were distributed to rural schools outside of Tehran.

A proven believer in hard work, in high school Kousha had earned a place in Iran’s prestigious and rigorous National Olympiad in Informatics, competing against students from around the country to solve complex math and programming problems. After months of intense preparation at home and in dedicated summer camps, and with a broken wrist that forced him to change from right- to left-handedness, Kousha rose to the final rounds, ultimately taking home the bronze medal.

When he was 18, Kousha’s family moved to California, which he calls, “the land of technology.” He enrolled in community college, learned the English language and earned the academic credits and 3.9 GPA that opened the door to UC San Diego.

“Having lived in a developing country and moving here led me to understand and feel the impact of technology on human lives. When I started attending school in California, I was surprised about the variety of resources and equipment that students can access in the university. After using these resources and seeing how useful they are, I promised myself that someday I will be successful and I will use my knowledge in order to improve technology in rural places.”

When not studying, Kousha continues to tutor in math and computer science, and has volunteered his computer skills to a cross-border Red Cross project to improve response times in Tijuana ambulances.