Jad T. Costandi

Jad

“I have a great interest in design, in form. I believe engineering can be aesthetic as well as functional. Throughout human history, art has been intrinsically connected with technology and science.”

  • Program: 2008 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Seattle, WA
  • Hometown: Portland, OR
  • Age: 22

Biography

PROFILE: Jad Costandi’s passion for engineering grew out of an early fascination with comic books and drawing. “Spider-Man, in particular, was a catalyst.” As he started out by tracing the comic book images he loved, he realized that drawing a character required knowing how to draw each body part separately. “I found myself able to draw a head but not a face, so all my characters wore masks.” As he mastered each part, the layers could come off until finally, “I learned to create the whole.”
Undecided on what to do after high school, he bought a plane ticket to London and spent the next four months traveling through Western Europe, diving into the backpacking culture in much the same way he did with drawing.
INSPIRATION: During a tumultuous childhood that included a great deal of moving around, Jad’s grandparents often turned difficult situations into “times of comfort and provision.” He still gains strength from their example, though his biggest inspiration today comes from his wife. “I have learned from her that limits do not exist within one’s comfort zone, they are far beyond and the path to reach them is sometimes only clear once it has been traversed.”
ASPIRATION: Jad has always fantasized about designing planes, cars or robots. “Design is something I love and I have always maintained drawing as my main hobby.” Pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, he hopes, “will provide the tools to best engage the scope of industries that suit my personal interests and passions.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Jad has built homes in Peru, tutored Mexican students in English, and helped his church in outreach programs for the homeless.
ACCOLADES: On the Dean’s List at Central Oregon Community College, Jad also received the college’s Academic Achievement Award.
INTERESTING FACT: Jad once worked for a hunting ammunition manufacturer, where he inspected, boxed, and shrink-wrapped bullets.

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