When the Uppugonduri family moved from New Hampshire to San Diego in 2007, they wanted a neighborhood designed for young families and had major conveniences in close proximity. They only looked at a few areas of San Diego, but the first time they visited 4S Ranch – they knew they had found the place.
“We love the shopping, schools, parks, and open trails of the 4S Ranch community,” said Suneethi Uppugonduri. “And the fact that it is close to major highways and beaches.”
Suneethi formerly worked as a research and development engineer, but is a homemaker since moving to the San Diego area in 2007 and focused on raising two daughters: Anisha, 9, and Sasya, 7. She actively volunteers at Los Penasquitos Academy in Rancho Penasquitos – where the girls attend school – and she has coached for Junior First Lego League teams, and helped to facilitate other science field day events. She also was on the Monterey Ridge Elementary School Foundation Board in 2008-2009 and was the co-host of the group’s first talent show. In addition, she tutors students in math at home during her spare time. Husband and dad Krishna Uppugonduri is a vice president at CareFusion, a San Diego-based medical device company.
Both Anisha and Sasya are into sports and are on swim team. Sasya has been playing recreational soccer since 2008 and is a part of an Avengers travel team this year. Anisha plays golf several days a week. The sisters play piano as well.
As a family, the Uppugonduris enjoy hiking and spending time at the beaches when possible. They also take one or two camping trips a year, and every winter they spend a week skiing at Lake Tahoe. The children’s participation in hiking distances sometimes surprises even the parents. “Even at a younger age they would hike a good distance,” Suneethi said. “We were day-hiking once in Yosemite National Park when the kids were 5 and 7 years old and we got lost, eventually hiking 14 miles round-trip instead of the original planned seven miles. The kids did great without complaining.”
Both Suneethi and Krishna immigrated to the U.S. from India more than 20 years ago, and the family participates in all holidays East and West, and festivals from India and the U.S. Suneethi joked that, “as a result, the kids have tons of fun.” But the family all considers themselves true Californians now.
