Sherin Shirzadi
We are delighted to celebrate the graduation of our daughter, Sherin, from Westview High School.
An ISSD alumna and teaching assistant, Sherin will continue her academic journey this fall at the University of California, Berkeley, where she plans to study Molecular and Cell Biology. Her dedication, perseverance, and passion for learning have led her to this meaningful milestone.
We are deeply grateful to the family, friends, teachers, and mentors who have supported and encouraged her along the way. As she begins this new chapter, we wish her continued growth, fulfillment, and every success in the years to come.
Congratulations, Sherin! We are so proud of you and look forward to all that lies ahead.
Mom & Dad
Omid Fouladpouri
We are pleased to announce the graduation of Omid Fouladpouri, ISSD alumnus, who has earned a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude from UCLA, Anthropology Department. Omid will be continuing his education for his master’s degree at SDSU this fall.
Nika Bordbar
With great joy and pride, we are delighted to share the news of our daughter Nika’s graduation with the Iranian School community.
Nika began learning Farsi at the Iranian School of San Diego as a young child and enthusiastically participated in many of the school’s cultural activities, including dance classes and celebrations. The Iranian School was much more than a place to learn the Persian language, it was where she strengthened her connection to her Iranian heritage, built lasting friendships, and created cherished memories that will always remain a special part of her life.
This year, Nika graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with a degree in Neuroscience. This achievement reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and a genuine passion for learning, and it is a tremendous source of pride for our family.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to ISSD’s principal, teachers, and staff for their kindness, guidance, and dedication throughout Nika’s years there. Their support played an important role in shaping her character, strengthening her cultural identity, and inspiring her love of learning.
Nika is now preparing for the next chapter of her journey as she pursues her lifelong dream of attending medical school and one day serving her community as a physician. We wish her continued success, happiness, and fulfillment in all that lies ahead.
With gratitude and warmest wishes,
Nika Bordbar’s Family
Kian Kalantar
Hello! My name is Kian Kalantar and I graduated from ISSD way back in 2016.
In the decade since, I graduated from Westview High School and then UC Santa Barbara, where I majored in neuroscience. In my two gap years, I backpacked across Peru and Mexico, volunteering in low-income clinics along the way. I also made what was simultaneously one of the hardest and most rewarding decisions of my life: leaving San Diego for a clinical research position in Denver. Now I’m moving onto the next chapter; in the fall I’ll be getting my white coat and starting as an MS1 at the Medical College of Wisconsin!
What’s amazing is that, through it all, I’ve sincerely felt the lasting impact of my time at ISSD. Let’s be honest—it’s not an easy time to be an Iranian American (and I say that knowing it’s not necessarily been easy on our best days). But even in the midst of a war that’s polarizing both countries, I find myself returning to a few core memories: the smell of ash reshteh at ISSD’s annual bazaar; the buzz of excitement when our classroom won that year’s UNICEF fundraising contest; and the look of awe on my friends’ faces when I brought them to the school’s Nowruz celebration.
Experiences like these helped me understand that our heritage is more than what we see in the headlines. It’s a lens through which we can better understand ourselves and build meaningful connections with others. In a time when things feel more divided than ever, it’s more important than ever to embrace and share what makes us who we are—and I’m grateful to ISSD for helping me realize that.
*Kian is always happy to connect with students and community members to talk about his experiences, the path to medical school, or anything else. He can be reached at kiankalantar03@gmail.com.
