While he was in high school in Africa, Jean Lambert Kubwimana knew that he wanted to be an engineer. “I felt it would challenge me the most,” he said.

During his last year in high school, Kubwimana was selected for the Rwandan Presidential Scholar program, a coveted honor bestowed upon some of the best and brightest students in Rwanda.

Not one to back down from a challenge, Kubwimana will be graduating with a degree from UALR in systems engineering-telecommunications with a minor in mathematics May 16, and is in the top 10 percent of his UALR College of Engineering and Information Technology class. He was recently inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, the oldest and largest collegiate honor society that inducts people from every academic field.

The Rwandan Presidential Scholar program encompasses 18 U.S. consortium universities that work with the Rwandan government to provide four year, undergraduate scholarships. Out of the universities, Kubwimana chose to attend UALR for its engineering program.

“Coming from Africa, it was really hard for me to adjust to U.S. culture,” he said.

With a previous education in French, Kubwimana found that starting a new program in English was challenging for him. He learned how to adjust through the support of other Rwandan students and new friends on campus, he said.

His family 8,000 miles away, Kubwimana faced another challenge: he missed his home.

“I overcame these obstacles by focusing on schoolwork with the assurance that I will see and talk to them again soon,” he said.

Kubwimana serves as the vice president of Tau Beta Beta, the UALR engineering honor society, and is part of the Rwandan Presidential Scholars Organization.

When Kubwimana graduates, he will attend the University of New Hampshire to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering.

He is thankful for everyone who has been part of his four-year journey, including his host family, friends, teachers, and classmates.

“It has been so challenging and rewarding,” said Kubwimana.