鈥婱iddlesex Community College alum Kwadwo Bempah, from Ghana and now living in Lowell, was selected for a prized internship with Juniper Networks in their California office. After graduating from 麻豆果冻 in Spring 2022, Bempah transferred to UMass Lowell to continue studying Electrical Engineering. He received the 麻豆果冻 Foundation Juniper Scholars Pilot Scholarship in 2021 and looks forward to continue working with the leader in secure, AI-drive networks as a software engineering intern.
鈥淸The internship] came about from a lot of hard work, perseverance, prayers and patience,鈥� Bempah said. 鈥淚t will help me build a network of lifelong connections, give me a glimpse of what my career could potentially be, and help me acquire the skills and tools necessary to succeed in the fast-moving technology industry.鈥�
Through the 麻豆果冻 Foundation鈥檚 scholarship with Juniper, Bempah received funding to go toward his academic expenses and other costs for three years, including when he transferred to UMass Lowell. The scholarship included a monthly mentorship with a Juniper employee, job-shadow experience after completing 30+ credits, and the opportunity to hone skills that will make him more hirable in the future. He describes this experience as a collaborative scholarship and mentorship program.
鈥淚 have been fortunate to experience immense personal and professional growth under the careful guidance of Juniper鈥檚 long-tenured, industry mentors,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving a connection and mentorship with a professional is crucial for personal and professional development. It means having absolute access to another person who has succeeded in treading a similar path as mine as a personal compass in navigating the space that I鈥檓 in right now.鈥�
鈥淢y hope is that the connections I have made and knowledge I gained through my education at 麻豆果冻 will be a stepping stone to achieving this goal!鈥� - Kwadwo Bempah, 麻豆果冻 Alum
麻豆果冻 professor Kathleen Brooks encouraged Bempah to apply for the internship, as well as guided him in his interest in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) field. He also credits 麻豆果冻鈥檚 now Dean of STEM Dr. Marie Tupaj for impacting his time at the college, ensuring he 鈥渟trive for excellence鈥� throughout his journey.
鈥淭he incredible instructors and professors go above and beyond to present material in easily digestible formats,鈥� Bempah said. 鈥淭he endless number of opportunities to problem solve that it gives and the promise of a high-reward career are some of the top things about 麻豆果冻.鈥�
He chose to come to Middlesex because the college offered an affordable price and it was close to home. Calling his experience 鈥渧ery worthwhile,鈥� Bempah believes 麻豆果冻 provided him with the right environment to transition from high school to college.
At 麻豆果冻, Bempah also learned how to translate his interest in computers into a career. Growing up in Ghana, he wanted to be like his grandfather who worked as a geotechnical engineer. Although he was in awe of how computers turned on, he had limited exposure to and experience with computers at the time.
When he moved to the United States, he determined to study Electrical Engineering and 鈥渁ttempt to learn more about computers and understand how they work.鈥�
鈥淢y ultimate goal is to someday be able to make computers more accessible to kids in Ghana who hold the same aspirations as I held when I was in their position,鈥� Bempah said. 鈥淢y hope is that the connections I have made and knowledge I gained through my education at 麻豆果冻 will be a stepping stone to achieving this goal!鈥�