#YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship brings international students to study at Wright State

Kwaku Nhyira Sefa-Badu is studying electrical engineering at Wright State thanks to the #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship.

The University Center for International Education endeavors to welcome students to Wright State University from all over the world and make their educational experience as accessible and welcoming as possible.

As part of that mission, Wright State has partnered with the #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship program to assist international undergraduate students feel welcomed and accepted in the United States.

Wright State has welcomed four scholarship recipients from around the globe: Hana Habib, from Egypt, who is studying biomedical engineering; Bahar Resaei, from Iran, who is studying biological sciences; Kwaku Nhyira Sefa-Badu, from Ghana, who is studying electrical engineering; and Michael Waweru Macharia, from Kenya, who is studying industrial and systems engineering.

Habib said the scholarship not only gives her the chance to study in the United States, but it gives her the chance to share with others.

“The scholarship is going to enable me to share my culture and learn about new cultures while also pursuing my degree,” she said. “It made me feel certain and confident in my decision to study in the United States.”

Habib is scheduled to graduate in 2027. She said not only does she appreciate the professors at Wright State, but she enjoys the campus.

“The professors want you to succeed. They always go above and beyond to ensure that you are comfortable and that you feel welcome,” she said. “The underground tunnels that help you navigate campus during harsh weather are a plus.”

Resaei said the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship enables her to make a difference in the world.

“I believe in the transformative power of education,” she said. “I knew my community’s challenges due to limited access to quality education. This scholarship allows me to pursue my studies and make a difference.”

For Sefa-Badu, the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship was a key to his dreams. He expects to graduate in 2027. He said that the opportunity to study at Wright State will give him experience that would be difficult to obtain in his home country.

“This scholarship was the gateway to realizing academic and career dreams,” Sefa-Badu said. “It provides me with an unparalleled chance to further my education and gain expertise that would have otherwise been challenging to acquire back home in Ghana. I am immensely grateful for being selected for this scholarship and am committed to continually proving myself worthy of it, and soon enough with this education I can go back home to strengthen our engineering community.”

Sefa-Badu said that he appreciates that Wright State faculty and staff are accessible and approachable.

“The concept of office hours was new to me, and I’ve found it invaluable to be able to easily approach and seek guidance from my professors,” Sefa-Badu said. “They are always ready to assist and provide support to students.”

Sefa-Badu said that he feels incredibly fortunate to be at Wright State and greatly enjoys working with his classmates and other students.

“I have had the pleasure of meeting like-minded individuals who also share my passion for success as an engineer, and we are determined to excel together in our academic journeys,” he said.

Macharia said that he appreciates the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship because it gives him a sense of a home away from home in the United States.

“I absolutely loved that the scholarship was a symbol of welcoming for international students from across the globe,” Macharia said. “I found solace in the fact that even if I would be thousands of miles from home, I would be coming to study in a diverse and amicable environment that would be my second home.”

Macharia said that he also appreciates the support he receives from Wright State faculty and staff.

“They respond promptly to any inquiries I might have and offer invaluable assistance and services when needed,” he said. “That is something I’m really thankful for.”