Hung Nguyen

• What does being a First-Generation College Graduate mean to you?

It took me my entire university career aka my 4 year journey to come up with an original meaning. It is important to develop your individual values while still being a good influence to the collective society. First generation means not just being the first in your family, but the first to create a legacy, a beacon of hope, or maybe pioneer for others to see it is possible.

• What is your proudest moment from your time at UCSD?

If I have to list my proudest moment at UCSD, then it must be the ribbon cutting event for my Community Food Wall project in my junior year. Why I chose that moment?

When I was accepted to UC San Diego to start my undergraduate career for 2016, I wanted to build something that can be implemented to help someone. I was given that chance, and on April 5, 2019, I presented alongside Dr. Keith Pezzoli, Professor Brett Stalbaum, and Zack Osborn to celebrate the opening of my early senior individual project - the Community Food Wall. It feels nice knowing that I did what no normal students can do: building a public project that is approved by officials on UCSD.

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mRQVY8-NoU"

• Who are the family members, friends or loved ones who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

I have two in mind. To my Roger's Urban Farmlab community, thanks for being yourself which made every moment we meet unique. To my sister, thank you for being there when I need it.

• Who are the staff, faculty or mentors who have been most influential throughout your college journey? Are there any words of gratitude you would like to share with them?

I owe this success of mine to many. To Zack Obsorn, I would like to say thank you for being my mentor and for allowing me to work on the hydroponic and other cool stuffs. To the Speculative Design professors, I truly enjoy the design concepts and world-building to visualize the many possibilities for the future.

• What do you plan or hope to do after graduating?

My plan for post-graduation is to get work experiences in regarding to these fields: sustainability/green design, technology, business, or design. I will admit that getting into any of those fields will be difficult. Long-term wise, hopefully I can fulfill my ambition: to help make a better future. But you know, as long I keep moving, I think something interesting will happen and that is fine too.

Campus Affiliations

Campus Involvement

• Publisher Chair for Grow at UCSD

• Hydroponic Project Lead for Roger's Urban FarmLab

• Volunteer for Student Sustainability Collective

• Volunteer for Inter-Sustainability Council

Student Retention & Success Programs

• Student Success Coaching Program

• Academic Enrichment Programs - TRELS

Cultural and Resource Centers

• Sustainability Resource Center

• The Hub