Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni

Undergraduates

  • Brendon Tankwa

    Despite coming from a family that has faced significant hardships, Brendon has an undying thirst for knowledge and goes out of his way to…

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  • Titani Sumaisi

    Titani sees herself giving back to the UBC and Vancouver community through dedicating herself to student organizations that engage in volunteer work for education…

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  • Edward Ssebuliba

    Edward believes that if he wants to see change in Uganda and in Africa as a whole, he will have to initiate it. He…

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  • Judith Otiti

    Hailing from Kokolo, a small village in Northern Uganda, Judith is the fifth born of eight children and is the second child to pursue…

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  • Alvin Orori

    Born and raised in the Kisii Highlands of Kenya, Alvin has a strong desire to study and practice in the diverse field of economics.…

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  • Ashley Nyangani

    Ashley  wishes to be strong and unwavering in her beliefs, despite the criticism and oppression that women face in her community and country. Ashley…

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  • Emma-Claire Njiki

    Emma-Claire is someone who strongly values persistence and perseverance, as her idol Nelson Mandela did. As Mandela says “What counts in life is not…

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  • Shinina Muthiora

    Shinina hopes to create an affordable and efficient healthcare system to help the economically disadvantaged people who don’t have the financial means to access…

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  • Luzier Mburu

    Born and raised in Kenya, Luizer worked hard to attain her full scholarship at the United World College in Freiburg, Germany. She says that…

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  • Sabeeha Manji

    Sabeeha is described as a “multi-dimensional and all-rounded student who performs a multiplicity of tasks with ease”. Her passion for people and community stems…

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  • Michael Kosgei

    Michael is passionate about the community he was raised in, and wants to see it grow to the potential he believes it has. His…

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  • Sia Jan-Abu

    Originally from Sierra Leone, Sia was selected out of 1000 applicants to join the United World College (UWC) of South East Asia on a…

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Graduates

  • Norman Nduna

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management Year: 2022 Country: Zambia Norman is a selfless, enthusiastic, and courageous leader who always strives to inspire others. He grew up in the rural part of Zambia’s small village called Kafubu Block. He faced many challenges ranging from insufficient financial support, segregation, and lack of role…

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  • Abigail Okyere

    Faculty: Sauder School of Business Program: Master of Business Administration Year: 2020 Country: Ghana Abigail embodies the true sense of optimism, resilience and vision. After completing the University of Ghana Business School with First Class Honors, she went ahead to qualify as a chartered management accountant. She co-founded an entrepreneurial business in online grocery shopping…

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  • Claire Louise Okatch

    Faculty: Arts Program: Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs Year: 2020 Country: Kenya Claire Louise Okatch is a Kenyan by birth and enthusiastically claims her matrilineal Tanzanian heritage. She holds a BA in Social Research and Public Policy and a minor in Mandarin Chinese from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). She also graduated…

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  • Andrews Nartey

    Faculty: Land and Food Systems Program: Master of Public Health Year: 2020 Country: Ghana Andrews is a trained optometrist who graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana with ‘Distinction’ in Doctor of Optometry (O.D.). His mentors describe him as meticulous, well-rounded, and strongly positioned to act as a transformational leader.…

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  • Alfred Acheampong

    Alfred is a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Growing up in one of the remote villages of Ghana, he experienced first-hand the effects of resource degradation and the need to conserve natural forest and water resources. This experience influenced Alfred to undertake an undergraduate degree in Forest Resource Technology…

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  • Jonathan Awineboma Abagre

    Faculty: Forestry Program: Master of Sustainable Forest Management Year: 2014 Country: Ghana Jonathan has been dedicated to natural resources management since he was a child. Hard working and forward-thinking, he went above and beyond to finish high school and develop a strong foundation for his academic career. To fund his post-secondary education, he worked in…

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  • Priscilla Boadi

    Priscilla is aspiring for a lecturing and consultancy career, and believes that the Master in International Forestry program will provide her with the platform she needs to study and acquire valuable skills. Having understood the importance of healthy forest ecosystems in the protection and conservation of biodiversity, Priscilla has decided to direct her interest to…

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  • Isaac Jonas

    Isaac is a MasterCard Foundation Scholar pursuing a Master’s Degree in Food and Resource Economics at the University of British Columbia. He holds bachelor of Science Honors degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe. Before coming to UBC, Isaac worked for Youth Career Development Zimbabwe as Programs Manager where he worked with disadvantaged youth through…

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  • Patrice Meteunou

    Patrice holds a professional Masters degree in Forest Sciences with a specialization in Auditing and Forest Certification from the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.  He has worked as a Program Director in a non-profit organization called APECAM focused on forest and environmental programs and projects.  He has also worked with Cameroon Red Cross  for ten years…

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  • Alesia Ofori

    Alesia is a highly motivated, committed and enthusiastic young lady from Ghana. Being a firm believer in giving back to her society, Alesia devoted herself to community service by joining the Jesse-Rhodes Foundation in creating awareness on hygiene and sanitation, teenage pregnancies, family planning and HIV/AIDS in rural communities in Ghana after completing High School. …

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  • Aboubakar (Ally) Sekora

    Ally is the youngest of three brothers and one sister, and has overcome many challenges in his life, including the 1994 Rwandan genocide, to be here. Ally holds a BSc (with honours) in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness from the National University of Rwanda. In 2010, Ally founded the Rwanda Agricultural University Students Union (RWAUSU) with…

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  • Florence Blooming Soyinka

    Blooming is a MasterCard Scholarship recipient and a full time MBA student at the University of British Columbia – Sauder School of Business. She is the Founder of Africa Blooms Co., an online retail store that merchandises products proudly made in Africa locally and globally (www.africablooms.com).  Blooming believes that with hard work, persistence and the…

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