• Current Scholars
• Alumni
• Dream Big
• Scholar Travels
• Scholar Art & Music
• Scholar Stories
• The Scholar Experience

Callistus N Ditah

Biography

Profile:  A self professed overachiever, Callistus Ditah admits “school has never been easy.” But through hard work and spending extra hours trying to understand difficult assignments and projects, the Cameroon native made the grade at both Normandale Community College and at the University of Minnesota, graduating from both institutions with honors.  The name Callistus is of Greek origin and is translated to mean “most beautiful.”  And people who have worked with Cal over the years will not argue with that translation.  A kind-hearted gentleman who is quick to offer praise and help and thinks more of others than himself, wherever Cal has hung his hat, he’s made life-long friendships.  His goal is to become a doctor and serve the less fortunate.

Inspiration: There’s an old African proverb that says "it takes an entire village to raise a child".  Cal said he has certainly benefited “from a lot of people around me: classmates, friends and my teachers. I have no doubt I couldn't have accomplished half of what I have without their joint efforts.”  In particular, Cal said Dr. Genella Stubrud at Normandale Community College and Dr. Jo Peterson at the University of Minnesota have had a profound impact on him and his desire to become a physician.

Aspiration:  His goal is to preserve the human condition through medical education and to become a physician and a health economist

Making a Difference: Even though he has never been married, and lives alone on a student’s wages, Cal is the proud father of two boys, ages 12 and 13 who he has “adopted” and who live in a remote village in Northwest Cameroon. The children came into his life through a series of conversations with his aunt, a nun in Cameroon. “While I am neither genetically related to Edwin or Eric nor have adoption papers that legitimize my claim, I am tied to these two boys in the same way that a father would be to his sons.”  Cal provides financial assistance for the two boys.

Accolades: In addition to receiving a Certificate of Achievement from his community college, Cal was recently awarded a merit-based full tuition scholarship from the University of Michigan.

Interesting Fact: At age 11, Cal was on his own.  That’s how old he was when he moved out of his family’s home in Cameroon. 

Other Scholars Like Callistus