Ajabu Africa News

PHOTO:

Janet Kiongera after graduating with a Bachelors of Accounting Degree from Umass Amherst. Ajabu Media Pic/H.MAINA

By:

Harrison Maina

Posted:

May,23-2017 10:40:15

BOSTON__The 2017 US college graduation season is on in full gear where thousands of African immigrants are among over 2 million students gaining degrees and certificates in various fields, including highly skilled ones.

College graduates, eager to cap years of hard work and dedication have taken to social media which is awash with images of graduation ceremonies as families bask in the limelight.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, colleges and universities are expected to award 1,018,000 associate's degrees; 1.9 million bachelor's degrees; 798,000 master's degrees; and 181,000 doctor's degrees during the 2016-2017 school year.

In 2013-14, postsecondary institutions awarded 96,900 certificates below the associate's degree level, 1.0 million associate's degrees, 1.9 million bachelor's degrees, 754,000 master's degrees, and 178,000 doctor's degrees(source).

David Kubai, Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering, Umass Amherst. AJABU MEDIA PIC/AJABU AFRICA NEWS PIC

In Massachusetts, more than 17,000 students graduated from the University of Massachusetts system, the largest public education system in the Northeast.

Among them were Janet Kiongera and David Kubai, two Kenyan immigrants from Lowell who graduated from the UMASS Amherst last Saturday.

Kiongera, daughter of Dr. George Kiongera, who recently graduated with a PhD in Nursing Practice and consequently founded the Maestro Connections Health Systems, graduated with an accounting degree while Kubai graduated with bachelors in Mechanical Engineering.

"It feels good to be able to reach this point. I thank God for everything and my family for the support they gave me," said Kiongera , adding that she is planning to go back to school for a master's degree this Fall.

Marion Kiiru, right, Bachelors of Electrical Enginerring, Umass Lowell together with her mother, Cecilia Kuria who will be graduating with a BSN degree this Wednesday from the Elm College in Chicopee. The family's son will also graduate from high school in a month's time. PIC BY COURTESY

"Its great to be able to graduate after so much hard work. I feel very blessed and I thank God for being there for me," said Kubai during an interview with Ajabu Africa News at UMASS Amherst while flanked by jubilant family and friends.

At the same time, another Kenyan, Marion Kiiru, a Kenyan girl from the University of Massachusetts Lowell impressed many when she graduated with a bachelor's of Electrical Engineering at a time when her won single mother graduated with a Bachelors of Nursing degree from Elms College in Chicopee.

"I thank God for my daughter's achievement as the first female engineer in our family. We have come from very far especially when you see so many kids fall out of school due to various issues," said Kiiru's mother, Cecilia Kiiru during an interview with Ajabu Africa News.

More African students are expected to continue graduating in the next few weeks as the graduation season rolls on.

Dr. George Kiongera, and his wife, Elizabeth Kiongera celebrate the graduation of their daughter Janet together in the company of a grandughter at Umass Amherst.