Eunice Menja, one of our Upward Bound Advisors here at OCCC, won an outstanding Alumni Award from OSU.
This award is exciting in it of itself for one of our own, but it holds special meaning for Eunice, a first-generation college student, who very literally had to go the extra miles to pursue higher education. She grew up in a small village in Kenya and walked two miles to school each day. “I use my experiences as an immigrant in America to inspire first-generation students, whose parents immigrated here for better opportunities for their kids. I tell my stories to show that it’s possible to overcome barriers to education with support and determination,” said Eunice.
In her role at OCCC, Eunice mentors students in our Upward Bound program, a federally funded college program that supports low-income, first-generation students and student with different abilities.
In addition, Eunice also established Upendo Kids Children’s Home in 2013, a safe home for children, and Upendo Kids Inc., the non-profit in Oklahoma that funds the children’s home.