Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Nigeria native studying at Mississippi State is receiving the inaugural honor from a new education consortium working to make Mississippi a premier academic destination for international students.
Ademola Oladunjoye of Starkville, a student in the university's food science microbiology graduate program, is the 2011 StudyMississippi International Student of the Year.
Made up of 14 public and private senior and community colleges and some high schools, StudyMississippi was created to connect international students and professionals with quality Mississippi education and training. (For more, visit www.studymississippi.us.)
In addition to the award given at a recent campus ceremony, Oladunjoye received an Apple iPad, as well as high praise from his professors, fellow students and Benjy Mikel, executive director of MSU's recently established International Institute.
Oladunjoye greatly deserves the honor, since he "exemplifies qualities of an outstanding student," said Mikel, who also is associate vice president for international programs.
Oladunjoye, a 2009 Mississippi State poultry science graduate, came to Starkville as part of a cooperative agreement between the university and the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology in his home country.
While on the Starkville campus, he has served as the Student Association's director for international students, as well as president and vice president of the African Student Association. Also a fellow of the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Leadership Honors Program, he has assisted the Division of Student Affairs as a peer counselor and honor code committee member, among other duties. He is also active in the Starkville Multi-Culture Lions Club.
Oladunjoye's recent research projects have included an investigation of natural antimicrobials for the destruction of strains of Salmonella in ground turkey, which is the subject of his master's degree thesis project.
Oladunjoye said he wants to encourage other international students to become actively involved in campus life.
"There's not a small role," he said. "I like to see students use all they have to help other international students.
"MSU definitely is the home of hospitality, and people are receptive to new ideas," he added.
In addition to complimenting Oladunjoye, Mikel praised the consortium that made the Nigeria native its first student honoree.
"For the state of Mississippi, the StudyMississippi consortium is a tremendous opportunity for us to market not just MSU, but the whole state as an education mecca," Mikel said.