USAP Zimbabwe 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.
| More USAP Zimbabwe profiles |
Tatenda Yemeke
University of Chicago '13
Tatenda is a senior at the University of Chicago majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Health Policy. He spent 10 years in boarding school at Gokomere C.P.S and Gokomere High School. He has fond memories of the character building experiences he had during his stint at Gokomere Mission.
He is an avid believer in interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems and is always looking for opportunities to learn from other disciplines and subjects. He spent the spring quarter of his junior year studying China's economic development and transition at the University of Chicago Center in Beijing, China. He also spent a summer in rural Uganda as a research assistant working on emergency care issues. His work in Uganda was funded by a University sponsored African Studies Research Grant.
At the University of Chicago, Tatenda has been involved with Model United Nations, National Model African Union and the African and Caribbean Students Association. He is a member of the University's Multicultural Students Advisory council.
Tatenda's Chinese name is Xie Ying (谢鹰). He is interested in Bantu languages and is currently learning Swahili.
Joshua Foromera
Duke University '13
After matriculating to Duke University in the fall of 2009, Joshua decided to major in Biology though he added Chemistry and a certificate in Human Development later. His goal was to acquire useful knowledge and skills that are shape healthcare and biotechnology. He knew that his future was in research and clinical medicine and he never looked back.
Joshua began what would be the most exciting part of his Duke education before classes had officially started when he joined a research immersion pre-orientation program called pSearch. While working with bacteria to express proteins, he was fascinated by the science and technology behind the production of such complex molecules. After getting more research experience in a neuro-engineering lab at the Duke University Medical Center, he finally joined the lab of Dr. Haynes at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute where his work was focused on HIV vaccine development. His senior thesis, "Comparison of HIV Envelopes produced from Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK)-293 T cells and Chinese Hamster Ovarian Cells (CHO)," was a culmination of a successful three-year project to express Envelopes of transmitted/founder HIV-1 viruses in non-human cell lines. The envelopes will be used as vaccine candidates in clinical trials. He was awarded honors in Biology for the thesis and he co-authored a scientific paper (in press) from that work. In the summer of 2012, Joshua was awarded a grant by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to work in the lab of Dr. Walker at the Ragon Institute of MIT, MGH and Harvard, in Boston and he will go back to finish his under the same grant in the summer of 2013. His project was focused on understanding the role of CD8+ T cells during chronic HIV infection.
At Duke University, Joshua was selected to be Karsh International Scholar in the fall of 2011. He co-founded and was the Vice President of Duke University's chapter of Face Aids. Using his work-study money, Joshua founded Arch Munaka High School Alumni Scholarship Program (AHASP) that awards funding to children at Arch Munaka Secondary School based on merit and financial need. In his capacity as the President of AHSAP, he sources funds and transfer funds to the scholars and he is very impressed by the progress of the scholars both intellectually and socially.
Joshua's interest in HIV/AIDS advocacy and research stems from his personal experience with the disease as a young boy living in rural Chivi. He lost close relatives to the disease and he is baffled by the stigma that HIV positive people suffer especially in Zimbabwe. He is a perennial optimist and he thinks that a potent vaccine and a cure are possible. He is also interested in education because he views it as a tool to save people from poverty. His education was interrupted by financial problems and he does not wish the same on anyone. Joshua will enter Harvard Medical School in the fall of 2013 and he hopes to stay focused on his goal to fight HIV and to encourage disfranchised rural boys and girls to stay in school.
Ngonidzashe B. Madungwe
Tufts University '13
Ngoni is an aspiring young researcher and engineer who graduated with a B.S. degree in Chemical & Biological Engineering from Tufts University in Medford, MA. Born and raised in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Ngoni has always been an avid enthusiast of science and the human body. He attended Victoria Junior and High Schools before finishing his Advanced Level studies at Kyle College where he honed his interest in engineering.
While at Tufts, Ngoni expanded his passions further to include ambassadorial and research based activities. Throughout his four years at Tufts, Ngoni was involved in Undergraduate Admissions activities, led the school's African Student Organization and was featured in a number of university publications as a unique scientist seeking to make a difference in the world. He graduated from Tufts with highest honors for his interdepartmental thesis project that examined peptides from heart tissue for their effects on cell growth and differentiation.
As Ngoni continues in his quest to not only understand the human body, but also contribute to the world of biomedical research, he still models his life by the words of the late President Theodore Roosevelt:
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." – Ted Roosevelt
Yemurai Mangwendeza
Yale University '13
Yemurai Mangwendeza graduated from Yale College with a BA in Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies; African Studies. At Yale, Yemu was involved with the Yale African Students' Association, Yale's Women's Leadership Initiative, the Intercultural Affairs Council and Yale's Communication and Consent Educator team. Yemu was also part of the group that revived Yale's only afro pella group, Asempa!. She received Yale's 2013 Steere Prize for a senior essay that best exemplifies advance in scholarship gained by focusing on women or gender roles and by employing feminist theory for her senior essay "Experience and Policy: Women's Micro-Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment in Zimbabwe"
Yemu works in Southern Africa in the education, non-profit, and entrepreneurship sector.
The quote Yemu tries to live by is, "The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work superbly well" (William Osler).
Tinofara Majoni
Colgate University '13
Led by the belief "If only you believe, all things are possible", the Highfield High scholar persevered during his high school where he was the best student producing the best O-Level and A-Level results at the school. During his time at Highfield High School, he majored in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies and Further Mathematics. Tinofara developed his leadership skills as a senior prefect and secretary of the Scripture Union. While he was the leader of the Mathematics and Chess Club, the highly determined and goal oriented young man managed to complete the three rounds of the Zimbabwe Mathematics Talent Search and was a finalist in the prestigious Zimbabwe Mathematics Olympiad.
Tinofara is pursuing a double major in Mathematical Economics and Computer Science at Colgate University. As Vice-President of the African Students Union at Colgate University, Tinofara is actively involved with the Model African Union; he will chair a committee in the 2012 simulation of the Model African Union conference in Washington D.C. He is also a Tutor of various Economics and Computer Science classes at Colgate University. On campus, he is an ambassador at the (ALANA) Cultural Center and a member of Brothers – an extraordinary group of young men dedicated to equality, excellency, leadership and community involvement. He likes playing cricket and is the Vice-Captain of the Colgate Cricket Club.
Prior to attending Colgate University, the young man worked as an associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. In the summer of his sophomore year, He interned at the New York Stock Exchange. His long-term career goal is to be an investor and financier of growth for middle-market companies in Africa. He is also interested in education and economic development, the two sectors that he intends to get involved in any helpful capacity when he goes home in the near future. "I want to promote the talent that is in Africa just as I was given the opportunity to realize my dreams by USAP and the full scholarship from Colgate University". He is currently spending his junior year studying abroad at the University Of Manchester, UK.
Tatenda Yemeke
University of Chicago '13
Tatenda is a senior at the University of Chicago majoring in Public Policy with a concentration in Health Policy. He spent 10 years in boarding school at Gokomere C.P.S and Gokomere High School. He has fond memories of the character building experiences he had during his stint at Gokomere Mission.
He is an avid believer in interdisciplinary approaches to solving problems and is always looking for opportunities to learn from other disciplines and subjects. He spent the spring quarter of his junior year studying China's economic development and transition at the University of Chicago Center in Beijing, China. He also spent a summer in rural Uganda as a research assistant working on emergency care issues. His work in Uganda was funded by a University sponsored African Studies Research Grant.
At the University of Chicago, Tatenda has been involved with Model United Nations, National Model African Union and the African and Caribbean Students Association. He is a member of the University's Multicultural Students Advisory council.
Tatenda's Chinese name is Xie Ying (谢鹰). He is interested in Bantu languages and is currently learning Swahili.
Blessing Havana
Pomona College '13
Having graduated from St Dominic's High School in Zimbabwe, Blessing is currently in her junior year at Pomona College, majoring in PPE (Philosophy, Politics & Economics). She was very fortunate to find a major that suits her various skills and passions. Studying in the United States has renewed her mind and changed her approach towards life significantly. Having an outsider look, Blessing is committed to working hard to improve Africa's future. She greatly believes that to whom much is given, much is expected, and she intends to give everything she can, for Africa.
At Pomona, Blessing is involved in Debating, Mock Trial, and Inter-Varsity Christian Union where she leads worship. She has held significant leadership posts, including being a sponsor for first years during her sophomore year. Blessing also got an opportunity to study abroad while abroad, spending a semester at the University of Edinburgh. Pomona College has opened many doors for Blessing, and for her last years there, there is much more she hopes to accomplish. Still holding onto her values and love for God, Blessing is surely destined for greatness.
Zvikomborero Matenga
Wesleyan University '13
Born in a small village in Buhera and bred in the high-density suburb of Glen Norah A, Zvikomborero attended Harare High School (Danho) in Mbare. It is at Danho where he was groomed to be both a sportsperson and a scholar. Driven by an inner determination to succeed in life ands the famous words said by Einstein that "Great people did not excel in things that were extra-ordinary, but does the ordinary things in a great way". Though emerging from a humble beginning this young has got an unimaginable vision for his life.
At school he was the chairman of the Electronics Club which happened to be his brain child. His love for physics did little to limit him from other activities as shown by the role he played in Danho's soccer team. The young man has an insatiable appetite for mathematics and has hopes to take further his mathematical abilities though this dynamic world has forced him to consider economics and computer science as other options to take. This is only the beginning of a Buhera boy who believes that, "Every one of us is unique in his own way".
Lesley Nyirenda
Stanford University '13
Lesley Nyirenda grew up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, before enrolling at Stanford University, CA, in 2009. There, he studied civil engineering, with a focus in structural engineering. Lesley put some of his skills and knowledge to work by interning with the Contra Costa Water District in 2012, where he learned a lot about the water industry. He also pursued his other academic interest – energy – by taking classes and interning with General Biofuels, an alternative energy start-up based in the Bay Area of CA.
During his time at Stanford, Lesley was involved with various organizations such as the Stanford Africa Business Forum, the American Society of Civil Engineers Stanford Chapter, the California Energy Services Corps, and various campus Christian fellowships. In his spare time, Lesley enjoyed officiating in soccer matches for Stanford Intramurals and making a cappella music.
In May of 2013, Lesley was awarded the Crossfield, Black, Coley Award for Exceptional Academic Achievement by the Dean of Students. Lesley is graduating in June of 2013 with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. He is excited by the many challenges that await him.
Lennox Chitsike
Hamilton College '13
Lennox, a St. Faith's High Alumni, is a bright young man full of dreams, promises and potential bundled up in him that he hopes to unlock in the next four years. He pulled himself up with the proverbial boot strings from a country boy in Njanja as a child to become a Hamiltonian. The first step to realizing this dream was when he made it to joining the St. Faith's elite ranks and becoming one of the best students at that powerhouse. As a great public speaker, soccer player, and being in the presidium of the school's student government he managed to define himself not only as a dreamer but a winner.
Lennox also loves writing and he exhibited his prowess when he writes about resilience and passion in his life story, "Turbulent streams swell into still oceans." His high school notebook hardbacks were written, "I might not be the world's best but where the best go I shall go." And that he proved by becoming a child of one Zimbabwe's finest families - USAP. Lennox's greatest dream is to become involved in biomedical research especially cancer drugs and he hopes to pursue a biochemistry major at Hamilton.
Corra Leigh Magiya
Providence College '13
Born and spent almost all her life in the heart of Mbare in Harare, Corra did her Odinary Levels at St. Dominic's Chishawasha and her Advanced Levels far away from home at Regina Mundi in Gweru where she studied History, Literature and Divinity. Though she barely knew anyone in that part of the country, she managed to adapt and made new friends. Within a year she was named as the Head Girl. Corra has always been an active student and she actively partook in writing and presenting speeches which was automatically mandatory when she became Head Girl, Christian Life Community Group, Interact Club, and Volleyball. In volleyball particularly, she scooped the "Most Valuable Player" and the "Best Attacker" at almost all the volleyball tournaments she participated in. She earned her first title as team captain at St. Dominic's and the title has clung onto her ever since.
Her drive comes from within. She sit herself down and think about what she really want, and how that decision represents who she is a person. Once she figure that out; who she is as an individual, what she want, and what she think will make her happy, then everything else doesn't matter. From then on it's about following one's dream.
Corra is a Global Studies major at Providence College.
Rutendo Ruzvidzo
College of Wooster '13
''I was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness.''
Rutendo Ruzvidzo is the first in a family of two girls. She attended Glen View Primary and Secondary Schools and later went to Gateway High School for her Advanced Levels. She studied mathematics, accounting and business studies and came out with straight A's. She loves volleyball and cricket.
Rutendo aspires to major in mathematics and economics. She is a dertemined young young woman who has stood up for her decisions even when everyone was against them. She is inspired by people such as Hope Sadza, Nigel Chanakira and Zimbabwean renowned motivational speaker Milton Kamwendo. She is also inspired by the words of one speaker, "Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can clebrate that roses have thorns. Today stretches ahead of me waiting to be shaped and here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is entirely up to me."
Stephen Dini
Swarthmore College '13
Steve Dini grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe. For both secondary and high school, he attended Kutama College in Norton, Zimbabwe. Steve was awarded a silver medal in the Old Mutual run Zimbabwe Mathematics Olympiad and represented Zimbabwe twice for mathematics.
Steve is pursuing Computer Science at Swarthmore College and is interested in the field of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. In addition to this, Steve is also interested in the financial services industry. Steve is a member of the Swarthmore College Computer Society, a group of system administrators that provides web hosting, shell accounts and mailing list services to the entire campus community. When not doing work, Steve plays intramural soccer and follows cricket.
| More USAP Zimbabwe profiles |