UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- Demonstrating excellence in the classroom, providing leadership on campus and displaying citizenship in the community are Penn State ideals. Sandra Muhhuku, a sophomore petroleum and natural gas engineering major, personifies these ideals.
Muhhuku was named this year's recipient of the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award on May 1, at the Academic and Student Achievement Awards ceremony at Penn State New Kensington. The Walker Award is given to the student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship and leadership contribute to the prestige of the campus. The award was established in 1980 by Penn State President Eric Walker and is presented at each of the 24 Penn State campuses.
The Kampala, Uganda, native is the first international student to earn the campus’ highest student honor. Her profile melds with the insight of the former President who put an emphasis on citizenship and helping fellow students.
At the annual Celebration of Excellence ceremony, students, faculty and staff were honored for their achievements inside and outside the classroom. More than 100 students were recognized for their academic prowess and extracurricular accomplishments during the fall and spring semesters.
Three faculty members were honored with the Excellence in Teaching Awards -- K.R. Bridges, professor of psychology (full-time); Leslie Wolfe, instructor in business administration (part-time); and David Perdziola, adjunct instructor in mechanical engineering (Continuing Education). Faculty has three areas of responsibility: teaching, research/scholarly activity and service. The award recognizes campus faculty contributions in teaching. The principle criterion is classroom performance, but excellence in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom, and course development are also considered.
In addition to the faculty teaching awards, Ronald Land, associate professor of engineering, was honored with the Arlene E. Hall Service Award. The award, established in honor of the former director of academic affairs who retired in 2012 after 36 years at the campus, is presented to a faculty member who has shown outstanding service in committee work, student advising, involvement in student affairs activities, and other service to the University, campus and community.
Students received academic honors for highest grade-point average (GPA) in each major, as well as for earning membership in honor societies and honors programs. Ava Witter received the President Sparks Award for earning a 4.0 GPA with at least 36 credits. Student achievement honorees included Craig Synan, the recipient of the Alle-Kiski Society's Penn State Spirit Award and Muhhuku, who earned the title Lion Ambassador of the Year. In athletics, Phillip Mara (wrestling) was named Male Athlete of the Year, and Brooke Churma (softball) was selected as Female Athlete of the Year.
For a list of award recipients, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/46201.htm.
Sandra Mahhuku
A graduate of Uganda Martyrs Senior Secondary School in Kampala, the capital of the East Africa nation, Muhhuku is president of the Lion Ambassadors, vice president of the Muticultural Club, an active member of the Campus Activities Board, Creative Writing Club, Jazz Band and THON. She was named the 2015 Lion Ambassador of the Year. In addition, Muhhuku was recognized this year by the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education with a K. Leroy Irvis scholarship and an Outstanding Student award.
With academic prowess, Muhhuku carries a 3.6 grade-point average and leadership acumen providing solid credentials for a Walker Award nomination; her sense of community sustained the nomination and fortified her selection for the award. One nominator wrote, “She is the most caring person you may ever meet and is rarely seen without a smile on her face. She makes sure that those less fortunate are given a voice and helping hand. Her personality is infectious and makes you want to be a better version of yourself.”
For many students, spring break is a chance to get a respite from the ubiquitous polar vortex by taking off for exotic beaches or heading home to hang out with friends. For Muhhuku, it was a golden opportunity to give back to the community and learn first-hand about homelessness and poverty, which affects her native country. She didn’t grasp the extent of poverty in the United States until visiting Washington, D.C., in 2014 and Puerto Rico this year as a part of the campus-sponsored Alternate Spring Break.
Servant Leader
Muhhuku had eye-opening experiences that repudiated stereotypes about homeless people. By talking and listening to the people she was helping, Muhhuku got a better understanding of those dealing daily with economic crisis and housing issues.
“Hunger and homelessness is something I've seen in its raw form, being from a country that is considered third world,” Muhhuku said. “It is something I didn't think a country like the U.S. suffers from. I wanted to be able to make a difference, however small.”
Sandwiched between the spring break projects was summer work at the pantry at Mount St. Peter’s Church in New Kensington and a Martin Luther King Jr. “Make it a Day On, Not a Day Off” multi-campus community service project that moves around the region.
Muhhuku considers herself a servant leader. Her name is derived from the Runyankole word “omuhuuku,” which means servant. Runyankole is a Bantu language spoken by the Nkore and Hema peoples of southwestern Uganda in the former province of Ankole, one of four traditional kingdoms in Uganda. She says she was born a servant, and her calling is as a servant leader.
“Being a servant comes before everything else and that is how my life is lived,” Muhhuku said. "And I know for sure this is how my life now and in the future will always be, and I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way."
Poetry
When she is not volunteering in the community or helping fellow students, Muhukku writes, reads and performs poetry. She recited "Miss Me,” a poem written by a friend in Uganda, Kamukama Merab, at the Black Leadership Conference. According to Muhhuku, poetry gives her a “chance to be myself.”
“Whenever I write I feel alive, and when I recite I don't have to worry about anything,” she said. “It's like I've stepped into a galaxy of stars, and nothing really matters. “
Muhukku wrote a poem, “On Who I Am” as a supplement to her Walker Award biography form. The poem is an insightful expression of her destiny.
“On Who I Am”By Sandra Nabeka Muhhuku
If I journeyed to the place of no return today,Would I have lived life?Would I have loved enough?Would I have served enough?Would my footprint be seen?Or would they vanish like specks of dust in the wind?Would I have smiled enough?Or is there no such thing as smiling enough?
I fear that if I didn’t wake up,If I didn’t make someone’s day,If I didn’t cheer someone up,If I didn’t serve,I would have lived a lie.I would have failed my family,My community would be unhappy.
I really don’t have much,But my heart loves much.It’s a feeling I can’t explain,I am happy when everyone is,That I have no explanation for.
Maybe it was my parents …They believed in an infant,They instilled a serving heart in her,They named me Muhhuku,Derived from “Omuhuuku”Which means a servant.And within my name,There lies my destiny.
Muhhuku Sisters
The genesis of Muhhuku’s 7,400-mile journey from Kampala, home to 1.7 million residents, to the New Kensington campus in Upper Burrell, home to 2,300 residents, was her sister Samantha, who graduated last year with an associate degree in biomedical engineering technology (BET). The eldest Muhhuku sister gravitated toward the New Kensington campus because of the BET program, one of only three accredited programs in the country. Biomedical technicians operate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair medical equipment. The sisters shared a suite at the Nittany Highlands Apartments, the student residence hall located adjacent to the campus.
Samantha is continuing her bachelor’s degree studies in electrical and computer engineering technology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. Sandie will move on to the University Park campus in the fall to complete her degree work.
For photos of the awards ceremony, visit http://psnk.smugmug.com/.