Hithem Ghadamsi wasn鈥檛 the type of student who would brag about his accomplishments. According to his professors at the 糖心vlog视频, he was a disciplined student and a leader among his peers 鈥 but not the kind of leader who took credit for his work or boasted about his achievements.
His work, however, didn鈥檛 go unnoticed.
Ghadamsi was nominated by his professors for the 2023 President鈥檚 Medal, which he was presented in this year鈥檚 Commencement Ceremony on June 11.
Each year, the President鈥檚 Medal is awarded to a graduating senior with the most distinguished academic record. Students are nominated and selected from the top 2% of the graduating class in their program. In addition to their academic success, students are selected based on other honors and awards, research and publications, as well as future plans.
Ghadamsi graduated with a major in Biology and a minor in Neuroscience. He is currently taking a gap year while he applies to medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor specializing in neuroscience.
A discovery of limitless potential
Ghadamsi always knew he would go to college. Higher education was a priority for his family going three generations back.
鈥淢y grandpa was the first person to go to college in his city where he grew up in Libya,鈥 he said. 鈥淔rom then on, my dad and all his siblings went to college, and my dad got the opportunity to go to the United States and study. It was ingrained into the family that college education is very important.鈥
From an early age, Ghadamsi had an interest in science and engineering. He enjoyed tearing stuff apart and discovering how things worked. Together with his dad, he worked on fixing cars. His interest in science deepened in high school with his biology and chemistry classes.
While college felt not only possible 鈥 even essential 鈥 to Ghadamsi as a young boy, he still believed what he could accomplish would be limited because of his heritage. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think I could be a doctor until I was told I could,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see anybody like me who was a doctor.鈥
Ghadamsi鈥檚 father challenged this perception and helped him imagine all that could be possible for him. Now, as a college graduate, what he once thought was鈥痷nimaginable has become his life鈥檚 ambition. And he hopes that, as a doctor, he will also be an inspirational figure for other young people like him to see what they can achieve.
Specializing in neuroscience
Ghadamsi’s interest in neuroscience in particular started at the age of 16 when he had a seizure while having dinner with his family. Once at UW Bothell, he laid the groundwork for this specialization through his minor and by completing two summer internships: the UW and the .
鈥淏eing able to participate in a neurosurgery internship where I gained lab experience and made clinical observations really reassured me in my goal to become a doctor who studies neuroscience,鈥 he said.
Pre-med adviser Kristen Labrecque helped him apply for the program. Then, after completing the internship, Ghadamsi in turn worked to encourage other students to apply.
鈥淗e was getting help and passing it on,鈥 said Dr. Alaron Lewis, associate teaching professor and chair of biological sciences in the School of STEM. 鈥淭his is totally in-line with what I know of Hithem 鈥 not just accepting help but passing that help on to others.鈥
The internship also opened Ghadamsi up to the idea of doing his own research, he said. As a senior at the 2023 UW Undergraduate Research Symposium, he presented
An accomplished student and leader
Even beyond his two internships, Ghadamsi was an accomplished student who made the Dean鈥檚 List each quarter. Lewis recalls having to remind Ghadamsi of that very fact when she asked her Cell Biology class to practice writing cover letters.
鈥淚 pointed out to him that making the Dean鈥檚 List and being eligible for the President鈥檚 Medal were impressive accomplishments that he should tell people about, and he just shrugged about it self-consciously,鈥 she said. 鈥淗ithem is an excellent student but not in a flashy way. He is extremely modest about his own activities and accomplishments. He did not set out to get the best score, he just set out to do his best 鈥 and it turns out that his best is pretty darn good.鈥
Lewis added that even in remote classroom settings, Ghadamsi鈥檚鈥痚ngagement with his peers stood out and his desire to learn was evident in the insightful questions he asked. As classes returned in person, his 鈥渜uiet and unassuming鈥 presence as a leader grew, she said.
鈥淗ithem is a wonderful, caring human being. He is absolutely a leader in class. Not a loud out-in-front leader, but a 鈥榯alk to everyone in your group鈥 leader and a 鈥榤ake sure everyone has a voice鈥 leader and 鈥榮top by the professor鈥檚 office to advocate for others鈥欌痩eader,鈥 Lewis said.
A desire to help others
Ghadamsi鈥檚 role as a leader and a resource for his peers extended outside the classroom to his work across several student clubs and activities, as well. One club stands out as a passion project for him: the Student Association for Refugees and Immigrants.
SAFIR was founded in 2019 to support refugees and immigrants in the campus community to succeed academically and professionally. The club works with the International Rescue Committee to develop connections with UW Bothell and refugees. It became inactive after the coronavirus pandemic disrupted campus activities. In the hopes of reviving the club when in-person activities resumed, Dr. Salwa Al-Noori reached out to Ghadamsi.
鈥淗ithem鈥檚 role in SAFIR has been significant,鈥 said Al-Noori, associate teaching professor in the School of STEM. 鈥淲ith the other club officers, he has worked tirelessly to facilitate events and awareness that support students from immigrant and refugee communities and which promote understanding, inclusion and practical benefits for students from diverse communities.鈥
As president of SAFIR, Ghadamsi helped organize events such as clothing drives, youth mentorship programs and career networking nights.
鈥淚 want to help people because it鈥檚 the right thing to do,鈥 Ghadamsi said. 鈥淏eing a first-generation American, I鈥檝e witnessed what it was like for other people. Reflecting on my parents鈥 experience coming to the U.S. and having to struggle, I feel that I鈥檝e been fortunate to have a different experience, and I want to pay that forward to others who haven鈥檛 had the same opportunities.鈥
Ghadamsi鈥檚 passion for SAFIR鈥檚 mission is part of his overall ambition to help others.鈥疕e aims to someday practice medicine both in the U.S. and in his family鈥檚 home country of Libya. In Libya, he hopes to develop a program or a clinic to help provide health care services to the communities that need it most.
Graduating on a high note
When Ghadamsi heard he was receiving the President鈥檚 Medal, he was excited to see his dedication to his course work and his extracurricular activities recognized.
鈥淚 knew how much hard work I put in throughout college,鈥 he said. 鈥淎t times school was very challenging, so being recognized for that is very gratifying.鈥
His professors were thrilled to hear he had been awarded the medal.
鈥淗ithem has consistently over the period of his undergraduate studies demonstrated the characteristics that make him truly deserving of this award; he is an excellent student not only as reflected in his impressive performance in his coursework and through his engagement in research but for the dedication and passion he brings to learning,鈥 Al-Noori said. 鈥淗e also has a strong commitment to community as can be seen by his extracurricular engagement, especially in his contributions through SAFIR and the local Greater Seattle community.
鈥淚 truly believe Hithem is deserving of the recognition conferred by this medal, and I am confident that he will continue forward with the same commitment and dedication in his future.鈥
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