Abukar Hassan, his five siblings and mother moved to the United States from Egypt in 2007: “I was five years old, and we spoke very little English and didn’t have a penny to our name. But somehow, my mom entered us into a lottery that allowed us to move to America and find a better life.”

His mother worked hard to provide for the children, often working six days a week. Abukar remembers that on her day off, she would invite other refugees over to teach them to cook nutritious meals. Amid her own adjustment to another country, food and language, she helped others. Her work ethic and dedication to service deeply influenced Abukar.

Abukar’s mother worked as a custodian in the dormitory at the University of Utah. She said one day he would go there, not as a custodian, but as a student. His mother recognized that education would be the path to achieving the American Dream. Abukar believes that the dream is very much alive in the hearts of the refugees coming to the United States.

Each morning, Abukar’s mother would drop off her children at school and remind them of three things: “Make good decisions, education is everything and be good to everyone around you.” Abukar, who would roll his eyes at the time, has since embraced those admonitions. It was the promise of good education and good people that drew Abukar’s mother to find City Academy.

City Academy provides each student the opportunity to participate in schoolwide committees to promote citizenship through authentic service learning. Abukar’s experiences with the Rotary Club reinforced the value of life-long service to others. He participated in the Science Olympiad, which gave him lasting friendships, academic confidence and his first visit to a college campus, the University of Utah.

At 15 years old, Abukar began making and selling branded t-shirts. Recognizing this interest in entrepreneurship, Abukar sought out more instruction. City Academy didn’t have a class specifically for entrepreneurship, but Dr. Sonia Woodbury, executive director, helped him find a curriculum, and he studied it with support. “My ideas were not shut down,” he said. He continues to work in fashion, co-owning a store in West Jordan, Apparel Depot, and an online distribution company, Oak River.

As a high school senior, Abukar applied to the University of Utah Eccles School of Business and was rejected because he didn’t have one of the required math classes for entrance. He was discouraged, but his teachers encouraged him to sign up for the required class through concurrent enrollment at Salt Lake Community College. He did and was able to reapply and be accepted. Now a double major in business administration and information systems, Abukar recalls, “I was motivated because people believed in me.”

Abukar is a people gatherer with a “reach that is far and wide,” according to Dr. Woodbury. Due to his love of people, the restrictions of the COVID pandemic were his worst nightmare. His last few months at City Academy were held remotely, and he sadly didn’t get a traditional high school graduation.

He began at the University of Utah in the dorms under COVID restrictions. He remembers putting notes in front of everyone’s door to ask them to stick their heads out of the windows at a certain time so they could all talk. He wanted to continue being part of a community just as he was at City Academy. As a recipient of the First Ascent Scholarship, given to academically focused students with significant financial need, Abukar was given a cohort to guide him through the intimidating college experience. From his high school graduating class of 20 students to a college classroom of 140 students, Abukar appreciated the guidance.

City Academy hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for students in November. Having not grown up celebrating Thanksgiving, he loved the comradery of sharing a meal with his classmates. While at the University of Utah, he replicated that feeling. He recognized that many students had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving, especially immigrants, refugees and others that he encountered in the First Ascent program. He approached the Alumni Office and the Office of the President, asking for donations so he could host a dinner. He raised $5,000, thinking he could serve about 100 people. When he opened registration, 340 people signed up in the first few hours. Quickly seeing the need was greater than he anticipated, Abukar went back to the supporting organizations and sought out more sponsors to raise a total of $11,000 so no one would be left out. He was pleased to share the tradition of Thanksgiving with so many students.

Abukar is involved broadly at the University, including president of the Student Alumni Board, an intern in the Office of the President and a member of the Finance Club.

While in his business classes, Abukar noticed a lack of diversity. He knew that many refugees, immigrants or people of color (POC) didn’t pursue higher education. They didn’t believe that there was a place for them in business, especially in the technology sector. Abukar started Black to Business, a student organization that “strives to unify the black community (and allies) at the David Eccles School of Business. This club also encourages student growth through academic support, diversity, inclusion, workshops and community service.”