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Our international students come from more than 130 countries around the world. Each one has a unique success story and a reason they say Nebraska is their home. Meet some of graduates below and hear their Husker journey.
2022 Featured International Huskers
On May 11, Global Affairs and the Nebraska Alumni Association celebrated the 2022 International Student Graduation Reception to higlight the accomplishments of all of our international graduates in the past year. Get to know this year's 8 featured graduates and check out their stories below.
Picture Perfect: Chong finds her passion at Nebraska
For Ashley Chong, a journalism major from Malaysia, it was the Husker spirit at a football game that confirmed her desire to become a photojournalist — a dream she's ready for thanks to her classes and involvement at Nebraska.
Meet Ashley
Rodriguez finds direction through sport and support
Juan Sebastian Rodriguez came to Nebraska from Colombia with the goal of making the best of his college years. With support from friends and faculty, he found a way to combine his interests in business and sports to prepare for his career.
Meet Juan
Karki finds belonging in global Nebraska community
As a first-generation international student from Nepal, Sandhya Karki came to Nebraska with a big dream. Now, she graduates having made her parents proud and seizing all of the opportunities at Nebraska to grow as a diverse leader.
Meet Sandhya
#HuskerHired: Campus job prepares Al Rumhi for future career
As an international student from Oman, finding a campus job wasn't top of mind for Faisal Al Rumhi. But after starting his first one last spring, he's gained confidence and honed his skills for his next career step after graduation.
Meet Faisal
Twice as Nice: Two-time alumna Agrawal continues to give back to community
Growing up as a third culture kid between India and Singapore, Aakriti Agrawal adapts wherever she goes. But after spending the last decade here and two degrees from Nebraska, there's no doubt she's a true Husker.
Meet Aakriti
Abayo sees graduation as opportunity to change the world
8,000 miles away, Aline Abayo knew coming to Nebraska was the right decision for her college career. Now, she graduates with a Carnegie fellowship to keep changing the world through agriculture.
Meet Aline
Nebraska experience prepares Frias for next adventure
When Carolina Frias Diaz stepped on campus four years ago from Colombia, she didn't know the adventures she'd encounter. Under the guiding principle of "Challenge Yourself" and Nebraska support, she graduates ready for the next adventure.
Meet Carolina
Goh traces family footsteps, international student history at Nebraska U
Graduating from Nebraska is a family affair for Jun Yi Goh, with his mother and two uncles instilling in him a pride for Huskers since he grew up in Malaysia. As he prepares to return for his master's degree at Nebraska, Jun Yi is excited to continue that legacy.
Meet Jun Yi
Iribagiza finds new passion, leaves impact as “Woman of Character”
Since she was young, Shemsa Ndahiro Iribagiza’s parents instilled that she is a strong woman. Now the Rwandan native is dreaming big, helping others find their voice and feel heard, and advocating for others.
Meet Shemsa
Door to discovery: Olivo builds on childhood dream as agricultural engineer at Nebraska
For Agustín Olivo, becoming an agricultural engineer wasn’t just a childhood dream – it's the fuel behind his career that has led him from Argentina to Nebraska for his master’s degree and now to New York for his Ph.D. in animal science.
Meet Agustín
Nebraska empowers Hegde to accomplish goals, build community
From the community she found through getting involved and New Student Enrollment, Shridula Hegde has been an active Husker during her time at Nebraska. She graduates in May knowing she has accomplished her goals and is ready for the next step.
Meet Shridula
Entire Nebraska community lifts Kang to next stage in life
Zifan “Stefan” Kang's favorite part about moving to Nebraska from his hometown in Xinjiang, China was the kindness and comfort he was welcomed with by all different kinds of people – a global community that has propelled to him his future career.
Meet Zifan
Cárdenas danced into her own at Nebraska
Anamaría Guzmán Cárdenas has has always refused to box herself in, and her time at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln allowed her to open up new doors by exploring the intersection of science and dance as therapy.
Meet Anamaría
Al Hajri moves beyond comfort zone to great success
When Nabhan Al Hajri thinks back to his first memories in Nebraska, he recalls how small his comfort zone was. After making new connections and thriving with the support of his architecture faculty, he’s eager to return to UNL for his master’s degree in the fall.
Meet Nabhan
Husker experience helps Choong find herself
This May, Janica Choong will graduate with a major in advertising and public relations and a minor in English. She says her proudest achievement throughout her time at the university was actually becoming the person she is today.
Meet Janica
Nguyen graduates with legacy of advancing allied community
Kennedy Nguyen arrived at Nebraska apprehensive about his next steps. After interning with We Are Nebraska and sharing his experience as a transgendered male, he graduates with confidence in his future and strong support from the allied community.
Meet Kennedy
Teoh brings well-being and cultural awareness to campus
Hailing from Penang, Malaysia, May is a people person. For her, attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was a turning point as she worked to help people by serving as a Well-being Coach and raising awareness for multicultural engagement.
Meet May
Jabbar inspired to reach beyond limits
Advice from one of his architecture professors encouraged Ali to think outside the box and move beyond traditional limits. After completing his bachelor's degree at UNL and preparing to return for his master's, Ali is certain those same words will continue to inspire his designs for years to come.
Meet Ali
Da Silva leaves behind legacy of excellence after nearly a decade in Nebraska
International students find their way to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln via many paths. For Karen, her journey started with an internship in the entomology department and ended with a Ph.D. in agronomy and horticulture, nine years later.
Meet Karen
Graduating from UNL a “dream come true” for Al Barumi
7,703 miles from his hometown in Muscat, Oman, Said took the first steps towards his dream of becoming a professional licensed engineer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Looking back at his involvements and the engineering competitions he helped lead, Al Barumi is proud of the person he's become.
Meet Said
Nebraska becomes a transformative second home for Rakotoarimanana
Anja Rakotoarimanana may have left her home in Madagascar with the intention to transfer from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln after her first year, but the Husker community and the opportunities she found quickly changed her mind.
Meet Anja
No regrets as Yu completes his Husker journey
Frank decided to participate in the 3+1 Program with Northwest A&F University in his native China to make the most of his college experience. As he progresses in his academic and professional career, Frank will always cherish his time in Nebraska no matter where in the world he is.
Meet Frank
Irakoze harvests her dreams for agricultural leadership success
Zilfa came to Nebraska to cultivate her dreams as part of the CASNR Undergraduate Scholarship Program, CUSP. After honing her leadership skills and interning at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, she's ready for the next step in her career.
Meet Zilfa
Beon strengthens international student connection to local community
Before his journey from Ulsan, South Korea to Lincoln, Nebraska, Chris never thought he would be so involved in university activities. Now, after his five years at UNL, Chris graduates proud of the impact he's made in connecting the international and domestic community closer together.
Meet Chris
On-campus positions inspire Sim to serve the students
When Xiao Yun Sim came to Nebraska from Penang, Malaysia, she imagined her career would be in music therapy. However, after working with New Student Enrollment, Sim is eager to continue her education and ultimately serve students in higher education.
Meet Xiao Yun
Connections, professional opportunities propel Valencia towards the future
John Valencia has been traveling since he was 13 years old. Originally from Colombia, Valencia was unsure if he could find his place in Nebraska, but UNL’s diversity and welcoming community quickly changed his mind. Given all the tools he needs to succeed, Valencia is eager for his next steps.
Meet John
Zhang experiences the world in Nebraska
Before she even began college, Kexin “Echo” Zhang knew she wanted to study abroad. Now, after graduating from the Zhejiang University City College (ZUCC) Partnership Degree Program, she feels ready for a career in today’s global economy after her international experiences in Nebraska.
Meet Echo
Pham looks forward to skyscraper-tall dreams, still keeping Nebraska as his second home
Over the course of his last seven years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an undergraduate and graduate student, Quan Pham has made Nebraska his home. Now, as he graduates this May with his Master’s of Architecture, Pham is eager for his next journey and chasing big dreams.
Meet Quan
Mohammed carves her own path
Hawra Mohammed’s journey of more than 7,000 miles from her home in Muscat, Oman, to Lincoln, has spanned beyond academics and into self-reliance. Now, she graduates in May with a choice of employment and a bright future ahead.
Meet Hawra
Pashaj welcome to succeed at Nebraska
As an international student from Albania, UNL encouraged Enea Pashaj to succeed across campus, from strong grades in his coursework to finding various on-campus jobs and winning awards for intramural sports. After earning his bachelor’s in accounting in May 2019, Pashaj will continue his education at UNL, pursuing his master’s and preparing for the CPA license.
Meet Enea
From one home to another: Butera ready for career in Rwanda
Blanche Butera was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda. She did all her education there, until an opportunity arose to come to Nebraska on the CASNR Undergraduate Scholarship Program (CUSP). Excited to return to Rwanda for a career in environmental studies, Butera knows Nebraska will always be her home.
Meet Blanche
Google search to global journey: water program leads Banda to Nebraska
Sometimes a simple internet search can change a whole life trajectory. In the case of Mavuto Banda, it took him from Malawi to the Netherlands to Nebraska through a unique partnership between IHE Delft in the Netherlands, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute.
Meet Mavuto