When Amanuel Yohannes came to the United States from Ethiopia three years ago, the North Side Learning Center was where he felt most comfortable. "They helped me prepare for school. They had internet, wifi, and good places to study. I had learned English in Ethiopia but was not good at speaking it."
Yohannes had completed 11th grade in Ethiopia before coming to the U.S. He attended Nottingham High School for his senior year and received his diploma in 2019. That fall he began taking classes at OCC in the Engineering Science program. As he excelled with his coursework Yohannes never forgot where he came from. He regularly returned to the North Side Learning Center and tutored students in math, sharing his gift for explaining difficult concepts in simple terms.
During his time at OCC, Yohannes earned membership in honor society Phi Theta Kappa and received valuable assistance from both the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). Earlier this month CSTEP named Yohannes its Pinnacle Award recipient. He was recognized during a ceremony which was attended by representatives of the North Side Learning Center, CSTEP, and College President Dr. Casey Crabill. "Out of all of the hundreds of CSTEP students we only select one each year for the Pinnacle Award. Academics are a part of it. But your service, the way you are with your colleague students, and the enthusiasm and fire you have for the work you are doing made you stand out," said Dr. Crabill.
Yohannes has one class left to earn his degree and will take it this summer. He plans to transfer to a four-year school and pursue a bachelor's degree in something related to mechanical engineering. He will also continue to go to the North Side Learning Center where he now volunteers and tutors. "I like to help students because most of them have a language barrier like I did. I tutor them at math because I am good at math. I also want to help them socially because they are new to America."
