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Bertheleau M. Ngakam
“As a doctor I could treat patients and as a pharmacist I could formulate medicine for them. As a research scientist I could discover cures.”
- Program: 2008 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Recipient
- Hometown: Yaounde, Cameroon
- Community College: Essex County College
- Four-year College or University: Cornell University
- Academic/Career Pursuits: Health Care, International NGO/Relations, Medical Practitioner, Nonprofits, Sciences, Biological Sciences, Agricultural Sciences
- Other Interests: Boy / Girl Scouts, Church / Religious Organization, Honor Society, Languages, Leadership Development, Model UN, Outdoor / Mountaineering / Camping, Public Policy, Sports, Student Government, Tutoring / Mentoring, Volunteer Work
Biography
PROFILE: Bertheleau Ngakam was born and raised in Cameroon, Central Africa, where he graduated from high school but was forced to abandon higher education to deal with family and financial difficulties. A corrupt higher education system that granted college opportunities only to the highest bidders prompted Bertheleau to decide to leave his country.
He came to the US in 2004, enrolling in Essex County College in 2005. By 2007, he had graduated as class valedictorian and was named to the All-USA Academic First Team.
A twenty-two year veteran of the Scouts of Cameroon, Bertheleau has traveled the world as a volunteer with the organization working with United Nations agencies like WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA.
INSPIRATION: One of Bertheleau’s Scout leaders in Cameroon has been an important source of inspiration. Before leaving for the US in 2004, he said to him: “I might not be here to see you succeed, but I am confident that you will succeed.”
ASPIRATION: Bertheleau has wanted to become a doctor since the age of six. He hopes to eventually return home to help the situation in Cameroon and work for a UN agency in the third world “to make our world a little better than I found it.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: He tutors at high schools and his community college, helping students with biology, chemistry, math, and French. Bertheleau has also worked as a mentor and tutor for the Project GRAD Newark summer program.
ACCOLADES: Bertheleau received the Scuorzo/Weber Academic Excellence award, the 2007 Faculty Scholar award, the Drs. Mary E. & Reynold E. Burch Endowment Award, and the Alpha Phi Alpha Johnson/Williams award for science.
INTERESTING FACT: Bertheleau speaks six different Central and West African languages.
Other Scholars Like Bertheleau
Joan Kim
College Scholar
Cornell University
Tara Johnson
Graduate Scholar
Johns Hopkins University
Aaron Dowden
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Rochester
David Dutton
Undergraduate Transfer Scholar
University of Mary Washington