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Michael Habimana-Griffin, a sophomore biomedical engineering major at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, has been recognized as one of Indiana’s outstanding first-generation college students in the Independent Colleges of Indiana’s “Realizing the Dream” scholarship program. He was honored during a gala dinner last Saturday in Indianapolis.
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'Realizing the Dream' Award Winners: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology student Michael Habimana-Griffin and Alexandria Middle School teacher Linda Neese were recognized in this year's Independent Colleges of Indiana "Realizing the Dream" scholarship program.
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Now in its 20 year, ICI’s “Realizing the Dream” program honors Indiana high school graduates who subsequently demonstrate superior academic performance during their first year of studies and exhibited leadership in campus or community activities. A $2,000 grant will be applied toward the cost of the student’s education.
Habimana-Griffin saw attending Rose-Hulman as the first step to achieving success in life, and viewed biomedical engineering as an opportunity to improve the quality of life in society in a meaningful way.
“I never wanted my opportunities to be limited by my lack of education,” he states. “The complexities and mystic of nature's greatest machine, the human body, captivated my interest in the biological sciences. Through biomedical engineering I saw the opportunity to improve the quality of life of society in a meaningful way.”
At Rose-Hulman, Habimana-Griffin is a Sophomore Advisor for Baur-Sames-Bogart residence hall, serves as off-campus committee chair for the Residence Hall Association, and is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers and Pre-Health Professions Club.
The “Realizing the Dream” program also celebrates the role played by teachers and parents in shaping student aspirations for a college education. Habimana-Griffin recognized Linda M. Neese, a science teacher at Alexandria Middle School in Alexandria, Ind. She received a $1,000 professional development award.
“Linda sparked my interest in the biological sciences with her creative and stimulating curriculum, and, most importantly, motivated me to go beyond the requirements of an assignment and to challenge myself,”
states Habimana-Griffin, a 2007 graduate of the Indiana Academy for Science,
Mathematics and Humanities.
Ella Ingram, assistant professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering, joined Habimana-Griffin at this year’s ICI awards dinner.
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