International student aims to transform lives through tech
OGDEN, Utah — Luka Shvelidze came to Utah for college, but he came to the United States for the adventure of learning and finding ways to improve people’s lives.
Raised in the nation of Georgia, Shvelidze came to the U.S. nearly three years ago as a high school exchange student — one of a select few chosen to participate in the Future Leaders Exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State.
“I first learned about that program in fifth grade. Everyone wanted to be part of it,” he said, noting the acceptance rate of 2.6%.
After finishing high school in Missouri, Shvelidze was looking for an affordable college that “offered lots of opportunities,” which led him to Weber State University in Utah.
“It was a simple Google search,” he said. “I switched to ‘Images’ on the search, and I loved the beauty of campus.”
Weber State’s mountainous backdrop reminded him of Georgia, while its computer science school stood out as one of the top programs in his search. He’s now majoring in computer science with a minor in management information systems.
“It felt like home within the first semester,” said Shvelidze, who took advantage of the Louis F. Moench Scholarship for international students, covering $32,000 over four years.
Now in his second year at Weber State and his third in America, Shvelidze lives in WSU housing and has made great friends, including other international students. Shvelidze speaks English, Georgian and Russian.
The 19-year-old said he’s always looking for ways to help people on campus, whether it’s teaching them to play a song on the piano or showing them how to code.
He wants to take that spirit of helpfulness into his career, too. Shvelidze said computer science touches on every aspect of life, from travel to video editing to songwriting.
“Technology can improve everyone’s life and that’s something I want to do,” he said. “I want to use computer science in every field I’m interested in.”
His interests are eclectic, but Shvelidze is zeroing in on avionics, tapping into a love for aviation that started when he took his first flight at 12: “When we took off, it was a feeling that shows you there’s something greater, seeing the planet you live on.”
With avionics and computer science, he envisions improving air travel for everyone: pilots, flight attendants and passengers: “I want to make people’s lives better.”
To that end, Shvelidze is already serving in several ways at WSU: as a Presidential Leadership Fellow, a resident assistant, and helping establish the European Student Club, which will launch in fall 2025.
He hopes his success here will pave the way for his two younger siblings: “I want them to see how far you can go. There’s something very powerful about being international.”
Shvelidze said he made it this far in his college journey by believing in himself and finding others to look up to.
“I’m always looking for examples in life, people I can learn from,” he said. “There’s all these opportunities you can grab. There’s always something you can learn and be brilliant at it.”
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu- Contact:
Bryan Magaña, public relations director
801-626-7948, bryanmagana@weber.edu