Yasser Dahab '02 Engineering

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

"I looked at other schools, but the UI seemed to be a perfect fit for what I wanted to do with my life. I was excited about being part of a fairly small program within a major research university. It's the best decision I've ever made. . ."

With a civil engineer and UI alumnus for a father (Mohamed Dahab, 1974 B.S.C.E.) and a mother who's also an Iowa grad (Debra Dahab, 1974 B.A.), it might seem like the UI would be the only choice for Yasser's engineering education. But he looked around first. And once he saw what Iowa had to offer, he knew his parents were right: The UI was the place for him.

Yasser, who was awarded a prestigious
Dean's Scholarship from the UI, has also received financial support through the college. He's been able to work in the labs and classrooms of the newly renovated Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences. And he's looking forward to beginning biomechanical research in conjuction with the UI College of Medicine, in the type of interdisciplinary study program that makes the UI special.

None of these opportunities would be possible without annual gifts to the Engineering Excellence Fund and other private support from the college's friends and alumni -- a fact that Yasser appreciates well.

"The college's new facilities are incredible," says Yasser, "and the faculty are always helpful and receptive to my ideas. I'm grateful for the opportunity to come here."