We are pleased to announce our 2015-2016 recipient of the Anthony Ihedoha Anaebere, Sr. Memorial Scholarship
Chinedum Peter Ezeakacha
Anambra State, Nigeria
PhD Student, Systems Engineering
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2017
For our inaugural year, we had nearly 50 applicants from Schools of Engineering across the country. We thank all of our applicants for submitting excellently crafted applications and continuing to excel in their respective fields of study.
After interviewing our four incredibly talented finalists, Mr. Ezeakacha stood out for his impressive academic journey and future career pursuits. He earned a BSc in Chemical Engineering in 2009 from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria in 2009. After graduation, he worked for ExxonMobil in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria as a Facilities Engineer and NG Equipment & System Ltd in Lagos, Nigeria as a Field Systems Engineer. His curiosity for oil and gas exploration lead to study in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette where he received a Master of Science degree in 2014. His interest in Petroleum Engineering stemmed from the desire to improve on the existing quality of petroleum exploration, using the most efficient and cost effective methods available with consideration of environmental, health, and safety issues. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Systems Engineering, where he is focusing on Casing while Drilling, an advanced drilling technology used when unable to use conventional drilling operations. He is also interested in mentorship and paying it forward, where he plans to “offer financial support to outstanding Nigerian students back home with burning desire to harness their academic abilities in the world’s best institutions […] simply because of the unbelievable turnaround story behind my coming to and academic success in the United States.”
We congratulate you, Mr. Chinedum Ezeakacha for an extraordinary story of triumph and academic achievement.
His recommender, Dr. Abdennour Seibi, Associate Professor of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, had this to say about Mr. Ezeakacha:
“I have known Mr. Ezeakacha as a teaching assistant at the University of Louisiana (UL) and he proved to be one of my favorite TAs ever… He grasps any new materials very swiftly, asks very challenging questions and excels in all subject matters…I can classify him as a world class student…He is a leader and well received by his colleagues, University of Louisiana faculty and staff. I admire his keenness and commitment to lifelong learning [and] his achievements speak for themselves… The department of Petroleum Engineering is proud to have a student of his caliber.“
We would also like to acknowledge our three other finalists:
Mr. Oluwafemi Richard Oyeleke
Lagos, Nigeria
PhD student. Computer Science. Iowa State University. Ames, IA.
Ms. Sarai Nwagbaraocha
Snow Hill, Maryland
B.S. Electrical Engineering Student. Morgan State University. Baltimore, MD.
Mr. Taiwo Orogbangba
Ikotun, Lagos, Nigeria
M.S. Computer Science Student. Hampton University. Hampton, VA.
Please check back on our website, your School of Engineering or your Office of International Student Affairs for details about the upcoming scholarship cycle.
Anthony Ihedoha Anaebere, Sr. Memorial Scholarship 