Zimbabwe Student Profiles
Since it's inception in 1999, Usap has helped tens of Zimbabwean students get accepted to top notch colleges in the United States. Some have since graduated and are working in various fields in the United States and elsewhere around the world and some have chosen to remain in academia at various instituations in the United States. There are over a hundred Usap students from Zimbabwe alone and each one of them has an amazing story to tell. Below are brief profiles of some of our students just to give you a glimpse of our diversity as a people as well as the diversity of our their career paths and futures.
| Class of 2009 | Class of 2010 | Class of 2011 | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 |
Bernard Londoni
Lynn University 09'
Son of a refugee, Bernard ran from the war in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and settled in Harare, Zimbabwe with his family in 2001. He secured a United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees scholarship to attend a computer course, and Business Studies at Pro-Theta College in Harare, and obtained his advanced Diploma in Computer Science. After completing his degree, Bernard interned with the American Embassy, public Affairs Section in Harare, Zimbabwe, in the Educational Advising Center where he was selected to join the Unites States Student Achievers Program (Usap).
Bernard secured a prestigious scholarship at a small private school, Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, to pursue his studies in International Relations and Affairs and Political Science. He served as the student body president at Lynn University following his tenure as the president of the International Affairs Society at the same institution. Having passion towards political activism, in February 2007, Bernard was appointed the South-East Region Representative for Africa Action Student Network, and served in the steering committee. Bernard also served as the Regional Director for Americans for Informed Democracy 2007-2008, and interned at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Africa Program, where he gained valuable experience in African Affairs especially in his work on the Great Lakes Region.
Bernard is currently at iJET International Risk Systems as an Intelligence Analysts- Africa. He is also pursuing his MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University, Arlington Campus in the Washington DC area where he leads the Gender Working Group. His conviction is that Africa needs a new chapter, and he looks forward to contributing towards change on the continent, in the world and especially in his native country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Abigail Mariga
Providence College 09'
Abigail is from Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. She attended St. David Girls high school in Mutare. During her senior year in high school, Abigail was selected into Usap, which afforded her the opportunity to study in the US. She is a Biology major at Providence College, Rhode Island.
At Providence, Abigail serves as a member of the Student Advisory Council for Academic Affairs (SAC), Colleges Against Cancer and is a resident advisor. She also spent a semester volunteering at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in the Pediatrics Department.
Abigail is very passionate about research. During the summer of her freshman year, she conducted research at Yale University as a STARS program participant. She worked on a project that was aimed at producing whole-genome transcriptional profiles of rice cell types, isolated by laser-capture microdissection. She was selected to give an oral presentation of her project at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students in Anaheim, California. In her sophomore year, Abigail interned at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals in the Immunology/Inflammation Department. She worked on a project to develop a new therapeutic target that reduces chronic inflammation in the CNS of Multiple Sclerosis patients. She is currently working on a project, which will have a direct application in the treatment of cancer. Abigail is also a founding member of the Providence College Chapter of the Sigma Xi scientific research Honor Society. She intends to pursue a career in Pharmaceutical research specializing in HIV/AIDS. Abigail aspires to be part of the group of scientists who will discover a cure for AIDS.
Kuzivakwashe Nyadzayo
The Wharton Business School of the University of Pennsylvania 09'
Kuzivakwashe Nyadzayo is studying Economics concentrating in Finance and Entrepreneurship. Originally from Bulawayo in Zimbabwe, he has a keen interest in international finance and development with a special emphasis on African economies. He has been involved as an undergraduate representative with Wharton African Business Forum for the past three years and has witnessed its growth in stature and representation. Kuzi holds a number of leadership positions in campus groups which include: the Penn African Students Association as the Publicity and Technology Chair. He is also a drummer for the renowned African Dance Rhythms group at the university. Kuzi also sits on the campus technology board as the Information Technology Manager for his college house.
Kuzi’s career plan is to gain more experience in the financial services industry which he hopes to use when he goes back to his beloved country. He still looks to the future to achieve greatness for the benefit of his family and fellow countrymen. In essence, the dream that Kuzi holds, is to engage in entrepreneurial initiatives that will bring about sustainable economic development in Africa.
Kudzai Ndondo
University of Chicago 09'
Kudzai Ndondo was born in Zimbabwe's oldest town of Masvingo. He is currently on a full scholarship at the University of Chicago studying Mathematics with Specialization in Economics in the class of 2009. At U of C, Kudzai is involved in a number of activities outside of school. He is the treasurer of the African and Caribbean Students Association, International Students Ambassador, Intramural Soccer player and he volunteers to tutor High School students from the neighborhood. When asked what impact the Usap family has had in his life, Kudzai described the Usap program as "a life changing experience that has opened up new doors which I never dreamed of walking through in my life."
Kudzai has always been a mathematics enthusiast. Back in High School, he was captain of the Zimbabwe Mathematics Olympiads team. He led the Zimbabwean team to the Pan-African Mathematics Olympiads Competition (PAMO) in Tunisia, 2004, where he won his second bronze medal. He has also won prizes in the Australian Mathematics Olympiads Competitions and an Honors in Zimbabwean Mathematics. Kudzai’s achievements are not only limited to academics; he participated in the Zimbabwe National Athletics competitions in 1998 and placed fourth in the 4x100 meters relay race. He was also captain of the Don Bosco Primary school Handball team and led the team to win the provincial champions trophy in 1996.
Kudzai is interested in joining the financial services industry, with the long term goal of making economic change in his country and helping to build a strong Zimbabwe Mathematics Olympiads team. He is a member of the Chicago Careers in Business program which focuses on business competencies and preparation for undergraduates at the University of Chicago. He spent his second year summer in Harare, Zimbabwe doing an Investment Banking internship at Stanbic Bank. This summer, Kudzai will intern with the UBS Equities Department in New York.
Portia Chipendo
Wesleyan University 09'
Portia was born in Chitungwiza, and began her educational career at Kenzamba Primary School in Chinhoyi before she went to Budirirai primary school in Chitungwiza. She then did her Ordinary levels at Seke 1 High School. Hope for a brighter future came when she was awarded a scholarship to go to Gateway High school to do her Advanced Levels. Little did she know that it was the beginning of a journey that would take her to Usap and then to Wesleyan University where she is now a junior majoring in Chemistry and Economics. Before she went to Wesleyan, Portia was an intern at the Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group.
She is passionate about medicine and social justice. She is involved in helping orphaned children at Budirirai primary school to pay school fees, as she believes that if it were not for people who helped her financially, her dreams would never have become a reality. At Wesleyan she is a leader in the Wesleyan UNICEF group, which advocates for children’s rights and is also an active member of the Wesleyan Christian Fellowship. She volunteered to rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans the summer of 2006 and she is a trained Volunteer for the Hospice and Palliative Care Unit at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut.
Portia is a resident advisor. In her freshman year she was a recipient of the CRC award given to the best student in Organic Chemistry. She was awarded the Howard Hughes fellowship for two summers for her work in investigating potential contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). She has been recently nominated to present her research titled, "pH-Dependent relaxivities of Mn (II) and Cu (II) complexes of pendant-arm polyamine macrocycles," at the 235 th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Portia plans to pursue a career in medicine and health policy and intends to practice in Africa.
Happiness Munedzimwe
Lehigh University 09'
Happiness Munedzimwe is a technology enthusiast from Marondera, Zimbabwe. He is pursuing an integrated major in Business and Electrical Engineering with a minor in Nanotechnology. His career aims have a strong focus towards engineering entrepreneurship, a path which he intends to solidify by graduate studies in a relevant program. Among his outstanding ambitions is an overhaul of the energy industry in Zimbabwe possibly by introducing thermonuclear power generation and a second national hydroelectric scheme. In his ongoing career at Lehigh, Happiness has engaged in undergraduate research in the characterization of Carbon Nanotube Transistors: the paper is pending professional publication. Philanthropic ambitions have foreshadowed themselves in community service, for which he shared with two other student respectively awards for Outstanding Sophomore Volunteer, as well as Outstanding Sophomore Student Leader, both for his participation in a technical project in the commemoration of Hunger and Homelessness Week at Lehigh.
His overall ambition is threefold: to be involved in the Semi-Conductor Industrial revolution in Zimbabwe and in the revamping of major branches of Electrical/Electronic technology; To be involved in social policy-making in third world communities and to employ entrepreneurship as a tool in global disaster relief. More personal goals are pastoral and familial.
Darlington Sabasi
Africa University, Zimbabwe 09'
Darlington believes that life is too short and the world is too small to make enemies. Smiling means and changes a lot and this is the reason why wherever he is, whatever he is doing Darlington always has a smile on his face and is never afraid to apologize whenever he disappoints someone. Talk about soccer, invite him to play soccer with you or to watch Chelsea or France play and, yes indeed the sky is blue and must be the limit, then you are close to sealing an everlasting friendship with Darlington. Positive attitude is the way to go for Darlington and one most important thing in his life is never to burn bridges along the way. With his positive attitude Darlington's passion is to always give off his best in all he does for the mere fact that he is doing it means it is worth doing. [Read more about Darlington Sabasi]
Amanda Valeta
Jacobs University Bremen 09', Germany
Amanda Valeta, from Kadoma, Zimbabwe, is currently pursuing a BSc .in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the Jacobs University Bremen, Germany. She is actively involved in campus activities and college coordination, which involves organizing and participating in curricular fairs and campaigning for general clubs available for students. She is a member of UNICEF, a club that aims at raising funds for underprivileged children through out Africa.
Amanda is interested in cancer research and upon graduation she wants to continue further with her studies in the hopes of becoming a very distinguished oncologist in her field. After working with disabled children in Marondera, Zimbabwe during her high school years, Amanda plans to give back to the community by opening an orphanage that will accommodate disabled children from all walks of life and to teach them to look beyond their disabilities.
Cliffton Murove
Drake University 09'
Cliffton Murove was born and raised in Gweru, Zimbabwe. He attended Stanley Primary School in Gweru, then Saint Patrick's High School. Cliffton is very ambitious and decided to complete his Advanced Level education in one year instead of the normal two. In 2004, he was admitted into Usap, enabling him to further his studies at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa .
At Drake University, Cliffton studies Economics, with a concentration in Business Law. He has developed a keen interest in the economics of developing countries. Cliffton is also involved in a number of extracurricular activities across campus. He is the President of Drake University Students in Free Enterprise, SIFE. He also serves on the Dean's College of Business Student Advisory Board. In 2006 and 2007, he was named Top freshman and sophomore student of the year, respectively. Cliffton also co-hosts ZNNPodcast, a weekly show on Zimbabwean politics.
Upon graduation, Cliffton would like to pursue a master's degree in economics before returning to Zimbabwe to help rebuild his country.
Lee Pedzisa
Colorado University 09'
Scripps Research Institute, PhD 14'
Lee Pedzisa was born and raised in a small sugar manufacturing town of Triangle in Zimbabwe. Due to hard work and unimaginable dedication in the midst of many challenges Lee is a proud first year Chemistry PhD candidate at the prestigious Scripps Research Institute, Florida (the world's largest independent non-profit biomedical research institute) where he is pursuing his PhD in Organic Chemistry. Despite the demands of graduate school, he participates in intramural soccer with neighboring Florida Atlantic University. He is a recipient of the William C. Champion Prize in Organic Chemistry, the Merck Index Book Award, the Alpha Lambda Delta Award, and the Crecelius Family Award in Chemistry from Colorado College, where he graduated magna cum laude with a distinction in Chemistry.
His goal is be a Pharmaceutical Chemist or Synthetic Organic Chemist. Chemistry may seem like a dry, academic subject; after all, Arthur C. Clarke said, "... chemistry is a trade for people without enough imagination to be physicists." However, Lee believes that chemistry extends far beyond its immediate academic significance. As the Nobel Laureate E. J. Corey said, "The organic chemist is more than a logician and strategist; he is an explorer strongly influenced to speculate, to imagine, and even to create." Lee is automatically drawn to human beings and their ever-changing, beautifully vulnerable lives - the intersection between chemistry and social action deeply interests him. Lee's dream is to own a Pharmaceutical Company in Zimbabwe and to provide affordable medicines to all Zimbabweans, thereby linking his intellectual interest in objective physical science with a deep-seated subjective motivation to help people.
Patience Moyo
Mount Holyoke College 09'
Patience Moyo grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe where she lived with her parents and four siblings. She attended St. James Girls High School and completed the Advanced Level in 2004. With the help of Usap she received a generous scholarship to attend Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts for undergraduate studies. At Mount Holyoke she majored in chemistry. Her interest in pharmaceuticals and research led her to summer internships at Rutgers University and the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research. She graduated magna cum laude in May 2009 and currently works as a Research Technician at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She anticipates pursuing a masters in regulatory affairs and hopes to have a career in food and drug administration.
More Zimbabwe student profiles
| Class of 2009 | Class of 2010 | Class of 2011 | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 |