Posts Tagged ‘Chestnut Hill College’

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give”

These words, written over the archway within Chestnut Hill College’s main building,  are the same words delivered at the Chestnut Hill College Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11^th in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.  These words introduced Bud and Sue Ozar who received honorary doctor of laws degrees at graduation that day.

Each year at Commencement individuals are honored who exemplify a core value of Chestnut Hill College,  ”Service to one another and to the global community.”  According to Margaret Carney Mc Caffrey, Board President, the Ozars provide an example of a husband and wife who witness their faith through commitment to family, church and society. In addition she highlighted the Ozars’ work in family life ministry, education, service in Samoa and Kenya and fundraising through Friends of Kenyan Orphans.

Pictured with their doctoral citations are Bud and Sue with Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, President of Chestnut Hill.

Father Riwa, along with Bud and Sue Ozar, had a lengthy visit with Joseph Mutuma (now JOE on campus). Joseph was the recipient of the full tuition, room and board scholarship offered by Chestnut Hill College for both a BA and an MA degree.  Along with the Ozars, Joseph is most grateful to the Sisters of St Joseph for their generosity.

Joseph reflected on the powerful education he is receiving at Chestnut Hill where he has learned to be an independent thinker. He realizes the Kenyan educational system is focused on memorization and the focus in the U.S. centers on critical thinking. So Joseph communicates with his Kenyan brothers from the Children’s Village who are currently studying in Nairobi, counseling them to be original thinkers. Joseph also assists Chestnut Hill students, as he is a resident advisor.

He shared reflections on a visit to the U.N. where he was the Kenyan voice with an international student group meeting to offer solutions on issues affecting the developing world.

Congratulation Joseph as you continue to take advantage of education here in the US.   

Part of the first graduating class from St. Francis School in The Children’s Village was Joseph Mutuma.  Joseph received a full tuition, room and board scholarship in 2008 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  In January 2009, Joseph began his undergraduate studies at Chestnut Hill.  As a freshman, he was inducted into Alpha Lambda NHS for outstanding freshmen.  In addition, he became a member of Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society for Business Management and Administration.  Further, Joseph is a Departmental Honors Invitee, currently investigating the Toyota Motor Corporation for his honors project.   In addition to his studies, Joseph works on campus as a grounds’ keeper 20 hours a week and has also added computer science courses as part of his studies.  Currently, Joseph is taking masters’ courses along with his undergraduate classes as part of a program, which allows students to take masters’ courses prior to receiving their undergraduate degree.

In May 2013, Joseph will be awarded a BS in Accounting and Computer Science and in December 2013, Joseph will be awarded an MS in Instructional Technology.  Joseph’s professors, administrators, his supervisor on the grounds all rave about Joseph as an honest and hard working young man.

While Joseph’s accomplishments are notable, what is more impressive is Joseph’s background.  His mother died when he was quite young and his father was unable to care for him.  So, Joseph’s grandmother helped.  Joseph lived with her for several years where they fetched water, grew a few potatoes for food, slept on a dirt floor.  But Joseph’s grandmother was often ill.  She died when he was around 5 years old; Joseph tried to survive alone.  Someone in his village took pity and had Joseph move in with him.  He was then sent to a primary school where he excelled.  From here, Joseph found his way to Father Riwa.  Joseph asked Father if he could stay and attend secondary school, which he did.

When she first met Joseph, Sue Ozar said he was beginning to learn the computer.  But Joseph quickly learned to use the computer in connection with a brief English language course in Nairobi.   From there Joseph traveled alone to Philadelphia to begin his studies.  This is truly a remarkable story of an outstanding  young man.

Two years ago Joseph Mutuma, in the first graduating class at the Children’s Village, boarded a plane in Nairobi for Philadelphia where he was awarded a scholarship at Chestnut Hill College. 

With the guidance of Mike and Peg Connolly in Philadelphia and Jim McLaughlin at Chestnut Hill College (pictured here) Joseph not only quickly acclimated, he EXCELLED. Everyone at the Children’s Village is proud of their “brother’ in the States.

Joseph carries a full load of classes and manages to work 20 hours a week on the campus. This past summer we had the opportunity to visit with Joseph and we were impressed with the positive image he has created for himself, Kenya and the quality of education at the Children’s Village.

Many colleges were asked to consider providing scholarships to students from the Children’s Village. Only Chestnut Hill College said “YES.”  It has been a wonderful experience for everyone for Joseph has made us all proud. It is Joseph’s goal to return to Kenya and use the accounting skills he is learning to improve the functions of Kenyan government.

Thank you Chestnut Hill College.

Recently we paid a visit to Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia to visit Joseph Mutuma and to thank the administration to for the scholarship they provided to Joseph.

In a conversation with Lauri Strimkovsky, vice president of financial affairs \, we learned Chestnut Hill College has also made a commitment to provide a scholarship to a girl from the first graduating class at St. Clare in 2014.

This is wonderful news and motivational news. The oldest group of students at St. Clare  and pictured to the left is presently completing Form II (2nd year high school)  and will graduate high school in December 2013. So one of the girls pictured here will be coming to Chestnut Hill College in January 2014. Can you imagine what an opportunity this presents to these students and to the whole of St. Clare?  THANK YOU CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE!!!!!