• COTA supports with $4,000 scholarship award

By Okon Ekpenyong and Ernest Konjo (Apec1Radio)

Juliane Lukambo’s story has caught the attention of the community and the media. On the stretch of her media journey, the young yet intelligible to-be fresh college woman visited our sister publication, Apex 1 Radio. She was the primary guest on Sunday’s afternoon show with Ernest Kanjo, and her parents were in the studio to share about academic excellence. She received University scholarship of up to $240,000 (Two Hundred and Forty Thousand). Before the interview, we attended Juliane’s Northland High School Graduation Ceremony at Nationwide Area on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Juliane Lukambo’s parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, and they cherish education. The young high school graduate also loves teaching. Her story is slightly different, unique, and memorable. She just graduated from high school with flying colors.

However, she did so after spending 10 years living in refugee camps. Exceptional!

In the USA, learning English and other subjects is slightly different than in Urgana, where her family ended up in refugee camps after escaping the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, because of her passion for math, it helped build her confidence in her studies.

Juliane, who finished top of her Northland Highs School Columbus class, is beneficiary of a scholarship for a colossal sum of 240 thousand dollars – money which will help in funding her higher education studies at the University of Dayton, where she continues her education as of Fall this year.

Juliane and her classmates celebrated receiving their high school diplomas outside of the Nationwide Area with friends, colleagues, teachers, community members, and other teachers. The Congolese American will study Computer Science at the University, and she said that the internship with the Ohio Department of Transportation as a Drive Ohio intern was one of the factors that led her to choose that program.

“My ability to balance work, family, and internship depended on constant communication with my supervisors, my community, and my family to ensure that my top priority was Education.”

“And despite your intelligence, it does not always help unless you put the effort in. Hard work is the advice I would give incoming first-year students and juniors, and seniors preparing for their final high school years. You still have to study. You still have to prepare,” said Lukambo.

Juliane’s father, Kubuya, said that her hard work in and out of the classroom is a testament to her faith, resilience, and family values. Her siblings look up to her, and she is always helping them with their homework to ensure they are all on the path to academic success.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most endowed countries in the world in terms of natural resources – diamond, gold, cobalt timber, copper, oil, and gas, and you name it.

The tantalum from coltan, used in manufacturing tantalum capacitors for mobile phones, personal computers, automotive electronics, and cameras, is the most conspicuous today. If we only go by this, that great Central African country would be the wealthiest and most comfortable place to live in.

For some reason, it is not the case. Needless to go, the politically ambiguous situation the DRC has been through is one of the reasons sons and daughters of the ex-Zaire have had to emigrate from the country over the years.

Today there are vast Congolese communities in several parts of the world, including Belgium, the country’s colonial authority, France, Germany, the UK, and the United States.

Talking about the United States, it is a vibrant Congolese community that resides here. Many may know Congolese more from their unique musical and dancing skills and top-notch fashion, but the people from the DRC are also doing well in education.

Juliane advises high schools’ students across the country:

* Get involved in your school’s activities, such as clubs or sports.

* Ensure you constantly communicate with your guidance counselors to ensure you take suitable courses to prepare you for life beyond high school.

* Start applying to colleges or universities and for scholarships sooner rather than later. Applying for more scholarships or schools opens up more opportunities for you.

* Look into internship opportunities and contact industries through your guidance counselors or the school, which usually holds job fairs or has industry professionals visiting.

Also, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, COTA has awarded Juliane scholarship award of $4,000 at the COMTO Scholarship Luncheon in Columbus Tuesday, June 7, 2023.

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