Support Nickson's MSW Degree
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Everywhere he goes, Nick captivates everyone's heart. While pursuing a Master's degree at the Columbia School of Social Work, Nick has radically changed students' views of what social work looks like. Despite all the barriers he’s faced, he continues to push onward. Nick has overcome challenge after challenge, and his current financial situation is yet another barrier he has to push through. In his current situation, Nick is not able to pay the full tuition for the Spring 2017 semester. He has until January 27 (deadline extended) to gather $28,000 to remove the hold on his account and be on his way to completing his Master's degree at Columbia, a dream he at one point couldn't even imagine to come true.
The reason for this Gofundme is because Nick is an international student who is not eligible for financial aid, grants, and regular loans. He is also not eligible for neither part-time nor full-time employment. Scholarships available usually have very specific requirements, like country of origin. Since Nick came to the U.S. from Kenya, several unexpected things happened to him which have affected his family and financial situation. He was involved in a horrific car accident that broke both his legs and half his face and had to take time off school for more than a year while undergoing physical, occupational, speech and vision therapy. He never thought he would come to Columbia University but thanks God he is here.
Nick's life is an inspiration to his peers, and his heart amazes us even more. His perseverance and passion for grassroots organizing is truly rooted in empowering the most marginalized people and making sure that they receive equitable treatment. He is a social worker through and through, but most importantly, Nick shows up. He shows up for the people of his hometown, his classmates, family, friends, and strangers. In every movement and event about restoring communities, he is there. In every discussion involving other students to talk about how we can make CSSW a better school, he is there. When a friend is hurting, he is there. While he is brilliant in his own right, Nick prioritizes being a student and strives to learn something new wherever he goes. Columbia School of Social Work community is truly truly blessed to have him and it would mean everything to the people cheering him on, including us his fellow classmates, to be able to walk across the stage with him.
100% of donations will go to Nick to pay for his last semester's tuition. Please help us gather the funds necessary to make his dreams (and our dreams for him) come true!
If you aren't already convinced of Nick's amazingness, take a look at his accomplishments:
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS
· Commencement Speaker, Lehigh Carbon Community College, May, 2015
· Student Volunteer of the Year, Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania, May, 2016
· Research/Outreach Fellowship, New York Immigration Coalition, 2016/2017
· Honors college graduate, Northampton Community College, 2014
· Honors College graduate, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 2015
· Founder and President, Amnesty International Cedar Crest College Chapter, Pennsylvania.
· Lead Organizer, Burundi Peace Rally, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 2016- http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-burundi-human-rights-protest-20160319-story.html
· Lead Organizer, Candle Light vigil and Prayer Rally after police shootings in Dallas, Minnesota and Baton Rouge
· Radio program guest With Kate, WXLV FM 90.3 Allentown, PA
· Magazine Article, Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, November, 2016- http://www.lehighvalleystyle.com/November-2016/Nick-Ogutu/
· Merit Scholarship, Columbia University School of Social Work
· Television Interview- Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, 2016- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tipTbZv-TM
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1HijHRBio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXE84_xM_5g
Have testaments to his character and amazingness? Please share in the comments!
For more information, please contact [email redacted].
The reason for this Gofundme is because Nick is an international student who is not eligible for financial aid, grants, and regular loans. He is also not eligible for neither part-time nor full-time employment. Scholarships available usually have very specific requirements, like country of origin. Since Nick came to the U.S. from Kenya, several unexpected things happened to him which have affected his family and financial situation. He was involved in a horrific car accident that broke both his legs and half his face and had to take time off school for more than a year while undergoing physical, occupational, speech and vision therapy. He never thought he would come to Columbia University but thanks God he is here.
Nick's life is an inspiration to his peers, and his heart amazes us even more. His perseverance and passion for grassroots organizing is truly rooted in empowering the most marginalized people and making sure that they receive equitable treatment. He is a social worker through and through, but most importantly, Nick shows up. He shows up for the people of his hometown, his classmates, family, friends, and strangers. In every movement and event about restoring communities, he is there. In every discussion involving other students to talk about how we can make CSSW a better school, he is there. When a friend is hurting, he is there. While he is brilliant in his own right, Nick prioritizes being a student and strives to learn something new wherever he goes. Columbia School of Social Work community is truly truly blessed to have him and it would mean everything to the people cheering him on, including us his fellow classmates, to be able to walk across the stage with him.
100% of donations will go to Nick to pay for his last semester's tuition. Please help us gather the funds necessary to make his dreams (and our dreams for him) come true!
If you aren't already convinced of Nick's amazingness, take a look at his accomplishments:
AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS AND FELLOWSHIPS
· Commencement Speaker, Lehigh Carbon Community College, May, 2015
· Student Volunteer of the Year, Cedar Crest College, Pennsylvania, May, 2016
· Research/Outreach Fellowship, New York Immigration Coalition, 2016/2017
· Honors college graduate, Northampton Community College, 2014
· Honors College graduate, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 2015
· Founder and President, Amnesty International Cedar Crest College Chapter, Pennsylvania.
· Lead Organizer, Burundi Peace Rally, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 2016- http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-burundi-human-rights-protest-20160319-story.html
· Lead Organizer, Candle Light vigil and Prayer Rally after police shootings in Dallas, Minnesota and Baton Rouge
· Radio program guest With Kate, WXLV FM 90.3 Allentown, PA
· Magazine Article, Lehigh Valley Style Magazine, November, 2016- http://www.lehighvalleystyle.com/November-2016/Nick-Ogutu/
· Merit Scholarship, Columbia University School of Social Work
· Television Interview- Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, 2016- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tipTbZv-TM
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz1HijHRBio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXE84_xM_5g
Have testaments to his character and amazingness? Please share in the comments!
For more information, please contact [email redacted].
Organizer and beneficiary
CSSW Supporters
Organizer
New York, NY
Nickson Oguttu
Beneficiary