Meet Our First SSU Scholarship Recipients: Nashad Hakim & Amir Sadeghi!
It’s safe to say that this year, life as a college student felt different. The usual routine of paying tuition, maintaining good grades and making friends was met with the uncertainty of what the school year might look like. Financial stress can have a huge impact on your college experience, which is why we created our SSU Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards.
The SSU Scholarship gives two students who achieved a GPA of 3.8 or higher financial assistance to pursue their dreams and career path. We wanted to celebrate student achievement and help lighten the financial burden, especially following the impact of the pandemic. It was inspiring to know that in spite of all, many Sheridan students excelled in and out of the classroom this year.
We are proud to share our first SSU Scholarship Recipients,
Nashad Hakim and Amir Sadeghi!
Their personal journey and determination to succeed shined through their applications. As we congratulate both Nashad and Amir, we hope you find inspiration in their stories, motivation to keep pursuing your own goals, and reassurance that the SSU will continue to find ways help you along the way.
Meet Nashad Hakim, the 3rd year InfoSec student with a drive for leadership, teamwork, and innovation.
“My name is Nashad Hakim, and I am enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences (Information Systems Security) program at Sheridan, currently in my third year. As a mature student with financial commitments, I was faced with the dilemma of leaving my full-time job to pursue my interest. During that time, I was looking to change careers and thought that Infosec would be an exciting and rewarding field as we are living in an era where data and the security of that data is becoming increasingly important.
Throughout my studies, I actively assisted my fellow peers in preparing for tests and exams through individual and group study sessions. In May 2021, I was elected to become the President for ISSessions for the period of May 2021 – April 2022 after serving as Treasurer from May 2020 – April 2021; and one of my greatest achievements includes successfully enrolling our club as a Co-Curricular Record (CCR) recognized activity. As a consequence of the CCR application process, I have contributed to the development of a member participation logging system which will be implemented in the fall. Another accomplishment of mine was the successful delivery of a technical and news talks during our events. This was a personal challenge for me to further enhance my public speaking and presentation skills.
Over the last two years the financial assistance provided allowed me to excel both academically and in my extra curricular endeavours. I have been able to maintain a very competitive GPA (3.96), have co-founded the Sheridan Chess Club and am currently serving as President of Sheridan’s Information Security Club (ISSessions).
Finding a part time job that has the flexibility to work around my extra curricular activities, class schedule and grant time to study for midterms and exams has proved to be a challenge, especially during the current global pandemic. Receipt of this award is validation that I have made the right decision to pursue my interests and that my efforts have not gone unnoticed. I hope that one day I too would be in a position to give.”
Meet Amir Sadeghi, a Social Worker student with a passion for giving back to elders and peers.
“My name is Amir Sadeghi and I am a life-long adult learner. I am currently in the senior year of the Social Service Worker Program, specializing in assisting the older population. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and have a passion for mentorship.
Throughout my journey here at Sheridan College, I have committed my time to implementing creative student experiences and research. I was the recipient of Student Excellence for serving on the Peer Mentor team and offering some unique programs in the Special Interest Groups. I worked in a team of four student leaders in offering Health and Wellness weekly events that assisted fellow peers with the challenges of keeping a balanced academic life while staying active. This opportunity has also allowed me to connect with Sheridan’s ever-growing international students on a one-on-one perspective providing them continuous support. It is also a great pleasure to have been appointed as Sheridan’s new Leadership Coach from the Student Engagement and Leadership Department for the 2021/2022 academic year.
To date, my experience as a researcher in the Sheridan’s Office of Inclusive Communities towards EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) and as a research consultant in the Centre for Elder research (CER) in Sheridan has been extremely rewarding and productive. Sheridan has expanded my knowledge and recognition for the less fortunate and under-represented social groups and I plan to further my education towards a master’s degree around social work.”
Congratulations to Nashad and Amir!
Your hard work and effort is inspiring and we hope the SSU Scholarship will continue to help you both achieve your dreams. You have both accomplished so much, and we can’t wait to see what your future holds! We are grateful for the opportunity to have Nashad and Amir as our first SSU Scholarship recipients and look forward to providing more scholarship opportunities in the future.
3 Ways to Stand Out When Applying for Scholarships
You might be thinking, what does it take to become a SSU Scholarship recipient? What do I need outside of the GPA requirement to qualify? Throughout Nashad and Amir’s journey, you will find a passion for leadership and a drive to make an impact in their community. If you’re thinking about applying for the SSU scholarship in the future, or want to know what it takes to stand out from the crowd in your application, here are a few things you may want to consider:
1. Showcase Your Passions and Share Your Story
Every student experience at Sheridan is unique. You may study in similar programs, or join the same clubs, but your motivation for pursuing your education or getting involved is entirely yours. Consider what path led you to where you are today, what areas of your life your most passionate about, and the goals you hope to achieve.
2. Get Involved with Diverse Projects, Clubs or Initiatives
There are many ways to get involved on campus, whether you want to start your own club at Sheridan like Nashad, or become a Peer Mentor like Amir. Find ways to get involved at Sheridan that speak to your unique interest and passions, while also stepping outside of your comfort zone.
3. Give back to your community
Both of our scholarship winners gave back to their peers and the Sheridan community at large. Whether it’s through peer-to-peer support, clubs, or research, your college experience will be even more fulfilling if you find ways to support others. For Amir, this looked like helping out first year students manage life at Sheridan, and international students navigate school life in Canada. Volunteer work can help create a sense of community, build connections and even help you become clear on your purpose.
Want to learn more about SSU Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards?
The Sheridan Student Union Scholarship is available to all returning full-time domestic student applicants, $20,000 will be awarded incrementally to two students who have a GPA of 3.8 or higher. It recognizes outstanding academic achievement and will help students achieve their dreams, but we also have 3 other financial aid resources Sheridan students can apply for. Learn more about SSU scholarships, bursaries and awards.