Engineering Student Howard Ehana Mentors Students From Other Countries
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HOWARD EHANA
Electrical and Computer Engineering | School of Computing and Engineering | December 2015
Where is UMKC taking you?
UMKC is taking me to a summer internship at Sprint, and then hopefully to a job at one of the big companies in Kansas City. Someday I would like to be a sought-after consultant with my own first-rate engineering firm.
Why did you choose UMKC?
I was looking for a school in the U.S. that had both computer and electrical engineering, because I love them both. I had to do a lot of Internet research. My face lit up when I found UMKC’s School of Computing and Engineering. I love Kansas City. I like the Plaza and the fountains, and it’s quiet. I don’t go for the flashy lifestyle.
What have you learned about yourself at UMKC? I am naturally very quiet and reserved – or so I thought! College has revealed a side of me I never realized existed. I have learned that I am a natural team leader and enjoy working with people. I have learned that I am a lot more confident than I thought.
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received from a professor? ‘Figure it out – you can do it.’
What’s your greatest fear?
There are so many branches in science and engineering and I want to learn them all, but I fear I may not be able to.
What excites you?
I am a huge video gamer. I especially like the Halo series on Xbox. I also get excited about breakthroughs in science and technology. My news feed is stacked high.
What motto do you live by?
Just try it – it can’t be that bad.
Who do you admire most at UMKC and why?
My SCE faculty and staff, especially Deborah Dilks, my academic adviser. I came to UMKC as a scared, shy and nervous 16-year-old undergraduate. Ms. Debby took her time to make me comfortable and pushed me hard toward my dreams of being the best in my field of study. And here I am today – a senior with a 3.9 GPA and leadership positions in several organizations, especially at SCE.
With which of those groups are you most active?
International Student Ambassadors. We help ease the transition to the United States and UMKC by giving new international students tours of the city and helping them get things like state IDs. When I moved here from Nigeria, the ambassadors were very helpful to me. This position has given me the great privilege of meeting students from different parts of the world.