Georgia Southern awarded degrees to its largest graduating class ever during two ceremonies this spring. More than 2,200 undergraduates received their degrees at a Paulson Stadium ceremony while nearly 500 doctoral, specialist’s and master’s degrees were awarded at the University’s first-ever stand-alone Graduate Commencement in Hanner Fieldhouse. While the majority of graduates were able to relax with family who live fairly close by, others who traveled especially far to pursue their degrees on campus were prepared for…

Taking the next step

International students set their sights on career goals

Kenya’s Kisumu City is 7,761 miles distant from Statesboro, but not that far different.

Kenyan spring 2011 graduate Rahim Mawji of Kisumu City transferred to Georgia Southern in 2008 to major in finance and minor in information systems. He chose Georgia Southern for several reasons, but environment was key.

“The small college town reminds me of home – peaceful, tranquil,” said Mawji. “The environment at Georgia Southern provided me with support, but also gave me room to grow, for personal development. Physically the campus is beautiful – four-star,” he said.

“Academically, the campus is very conducive to those that want to learn. The faculty are supportive, there are research opportunities for undergrads and professional development opportunities.”

Mawji said value also played an important part in his decision. “Georgia Southern provided the affordability I needed. Getting an education in the U.S. can be pricey for International Students – affordability is crucial. I was lucky. I received an Honors Program Scholarship and an International Student Scholarship.”

After graduation, Mawji plans to spend time working in the U.S. to gain some practical experience and apply what he has learned.

“The American financial system and the system we have in Kenya are different. My goal is to work in the U.S. for a while and become more confident in my skills before I go back to Kenya and apply what I have learned there.”

Mawji is also considering graduate school and has applied to Georgia Southern’s Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health’s Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) program. Back in Kenya, he worked as an inventory stores and supplies manager at a large hospital in Kisumu City.

“It was a huge operation. That experience led me to my minor in information systems. Hospitals are now using enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like the SAP certification Georgia Southern offers,” Said Mawji.

Mawji feels the M.H.A., along with his degree in finance and minor will help him to make a difference.

“Ultimately, I’d like to move to a developing nation that needs young professionals to get things off the ground,” said Mawji. “You can have all the knowledge in the world, but it is nothing if you can’t share it and help your fellow man.”

Graduate student Olga Snigur also plans to work in the U.S. after graduation. Snigur came to Georgia Southern from Minsk, Belarus with a law degree from The Academy of Management in Belarus and an LL.M. in comparative law from the University of Florida.

For Snigur, Georgia Southern was an easy choice. She was looking into forensic accounting and heard about the College of Business Administration’s Master of Accounting program from her sister.

“My brother-in-law received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern and had good things to say about the school. My sister told me about the Master of Accounting program,” said Snigur. “I was interested in the forensic accounting concentration it offered so I decided to take this opportunity.”

Unlike Mawji, Snigur found the campus and Statesboro community to be different than what she is used to back in Minsk. “I was raised in a capital city of more than 2 million people. Everyone is always busy and on the go,” said Snigur. “I have really liked living here – the people are more open, it is very personal, comfortable.”

Snigur also felt that personal touch on campus with her interactions with faculty. “Jill Lockwood, the interim director of my program, is awesome. She is so easy to work with – makes you feel so welcome. Just wonderful.”

Snigur also plans to work in the U.S. after graduation to continue honing her skills. She has accepted a job offer and is heading to Atlanta to work for Deloitte in forensic accounting. “Commencement is a real milestone and I’m ready for the next step,” she said.