Paul Alongi – ClemsonNews
If anyone knows the value of a scholarship, it’s Kossi Ekpe.
For more than eight years, Ekpe has been splitting his time between going to college in pursuit of an electrical engineering degree and working at Chick-fil-A in Anderson. Not only has he been paying for his own education but also supporting his family back home in the West African nation Togo.
Ekpe, 38, said that while scholarships and grants have fallen well short of providing a full ride, they have helped relieve financial pressure so he can better focus on classes. The $2,500 in scholarships he is seeking for the spring semester would take about a month to earn working full time, twice as long part time, he said.
“For me personally, they have been a lifesaver,” Ekpe said.
Ekpe’s journey underscores the impact that scholarships have on the hopes and dreams of hard-working students whose potential is sometimes undermined by the financial realities of paying for a high-quality education. Many such scholarships are made possible by private donors.
Ekpe, who is on track to graduate in December 2024, said that he and his wife, Marie Claire, would like to have a baby and move from their Anderson apartment to a house. When there is enough money and time, he plans to take her on vacation to Paris.
Ekpe’s professors said he has stood out in large classes thanks to hard work, perseverance, curiosity and a positive outlook, even in the face of setbacks.
Apoorva Kapadia, a visiting assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, said that when he thinks of Ekpe, the tag line for the Tigers basketball team comes to mind– Clemson Grit.
“He embodies that grit,” Kapadia said. “He puts his nose to the grindstone and keeps at it until he succeeds or there is nothing more to give.”
Stephen Hubbard, a visiting associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, said that Epke struggled with two of his major’s toughest classes but availed himself of office hours and ultimately prevailed. Ekpe showed his appreciation for Hubbard by giving him a model of an ngoni, a traditional West African guitar.
“He is a wonderful person,” Hubbard said. “He is the kind of person I like to teach because he was interested in the classes.”
Ekpe received his visa through a lottery aimed at countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The visa allowed him to pursue the American dream, but he knew from the start he would have to pay his own way. Visit ClemsonNews for the full story.
