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By:
Harrison Maina | |||||||||
| Posted:
Jun,02-2015 15:11:36
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LOWELL, MASS.,--Miah Menyongai, daughter of pastor Jerry Menyongai of the Christ Jubilee International Ministries brought home two degrees, a Bachelors of Criminal Justice and a Bachelors of Psychology with a minor in Conflict Resolution. She was one of the privileged graduates to walk in a colorful graduation ceremony on May 16, 2015, to partake in the Umass Lowell Core as hundreds of thousands of college students continue to graduate across the US during this peak graduation season. Miah, a member of the Liberian community in Lowell received the two Diplomas at the colorful event that also marked the exit of Umass Lowell Chancellor, Marty Meehan who will now move on to serve as President of the largerUniversity of Massachusetts. Interestingly, Miah's younger brother, Jeremiah Menyongai III also graduated two weeks ago with honors from the Lowell High School. According to the young graduate, she hopes to utilize her degrees to become a lawyer in the future and help her African immigrant community along the way. "It was not easy but I kept pushing on. I thank my family for supporting me so much and that's why I was able to graduate in the two fields at the same time," she told Ajabu Africa News at the ceremony. The remarkable achievement by the Liberian graduate sets a new record for others to aim for in the African community in Boston where education is highly valued. "We are very proud of our daughter. She has really worked hard for this and has set a good example to younger students out there," said Faimata Menyonghai, Maya's mother while accompanied by the father, Rev. Menyongai, together with a battery of relatives and friends. A mini celebration ceremony was held where the graduate was welcomed home by wildly dancing Liberian women at the family's home in Lowell pending a larger duo- ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the brother and sister. The event will be held on Saturday June 6 at the Christ Jubilee International Ministries hall located at 101 Smith Street starting at 7pm. During the ceremony at Tsonga's arena, LeVar Burton, an actor and educational entrepreneur of the African American decent who helped develop the flip cell phone, and who at 19 years acted as Kunta Kinte in the landmark TV series "Roots", as well as the Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge in the iconic "Star Trek: The Next Generation "TV series and feature films served as the keynote speaker and an Honorary degree recepient. He told the graduating students to appreciate those in their families or friends who had played any role towards helping them achieve the education that had just attained from the prestigious and rapidly growing University. "Do not ever let a moment pass without thanking them and telling them you highly appreciate their contribution to your education," Burton who said he was raised and educated by a single mother of 3 told graduates and guests alike. He urged them to focus all their energies on performing any task in front of them to their best ability without worrying about the future if they wanted to successes in life. "The secret to success in life is to focus on the task right in front of you at any particular moment in time. Put all your energy in it, and the rest will reveal themselves." Bidding farewell to Umass Lowell fraternity, outgoing Chancellor Marty Mehan congratulated the graduates in various fields and levels, ranging from Doctoral to Bachelors for their achievements and urged them to utilize the education to improve the lives not just of themselves and their families, but also of the larger humanity. He said that he enjoyed the four years he worked as the head of Umass Lowell and was proud of the many improvements that he together with the entire college leadership, students and staff were able to bring to the University. He cited various projects the expansion of the University halls of residence around the city of Lowell and many new educational ventures as some of the highlights of his tenure. "This is my last graduation ceremony at Umass Lowell, where I also graduated many years ago. I love this University and wish you all the best," Meehan told several thousand students, relatives and guests packed at the Tsonga's Arena to witness the unique ceremony. During the graduation, dozens of other African students including Kenyans, Liberians, Ghanaians, Nigerians Ugandans and more received degrees in various fields. In total, 3,700 students graduated from Umass Lowell at the ceremony last Saturday, joining a strong 84,000 living alumni scattered across the globe. Four individuals also received honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees, the highest degree offered by the University for their Significant Contributions to the business, cultural, educational, industrial, moral, social, intellectual or physical welfare of society. Others attending the graduation included Honorable Rodney Elliot, Mayor of Lowell, State Senator, Honorable Eileen Donoghue,and Hon.Peter Kountoujian,Sheriff of Middlesex County. To view Miah Menyongai graduate,go to the 2:10:10 mark in the video below. | |||||||||
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Source:
Ajabu Africa News
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