From Community College to Columbia: Stories of Grit, Hope, and Momentum

“I had to convince myself that I was not dreaming,” said Stephane Kakou ‘27GS upon learning that he was selected as a a BMCC–Columbia NYC Scholar, a highly competitive transfer pathway from Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) to Columbia University School of General Studies (GS). This feeling was echoed by many Scholars in the 2025-2026 cohort. For these students, the honor represents far more than admission or prestige; it marks validation of journeys shaped by resilience, sacrifice, and hope.

Kakou, who is from Côte d’Ivoire and plans to study political science and sustainable development at Columbia, describes his life as guided by intention. His path to GS has been shaped by leadership, service, and a strong curiosity about the world and its people. At GS, Kakou discovered a community that supports lived experience as much as academic rigor. “I am grateful to be part of a community that values resilience, service, diversity, and intellectual curiosity.” Being named an NYC Scholar, he said, reaffirmed that “hard work truly pays off.”

That affirmation resonated deeply with Htet Aung Lin ‘27GS, who came to the U.S. from Myanmar after the COVID-19 pandemic and a military coup disrupted his education. In restarting his academic journey at BMCC, Lin discovered his passion at the intersection of design and technology, excelling as a student leader and social media designer on campus. Being selected as an NYC Scholar was an emotional moment for Lin. “I couldn’t hold back my tears of joy and immediately called my parents to share the news,” he recalled. “This scholarship is more than financial support; it is recognition of grit, resilience, and the reminder that sometimes missing one opportunity opens the door to something even greater.”

For Shaheim Kellum ‘28GS, a first-generation college student from Brooklyn, the scholarship represents legacy. After returning to school following a 20-year absence—while navigating serious health challenges, fatherhood, and housing instability—he graduated from BMCC with a 4.0 and honors. “When I say this acceptance means everything, I’m not just talking about prestige,” Kellum said. “I’m talking about purpose. Columbia GS isn’t just a school, it’s a launchpad for nontraditional students like me.”

That launchpad extends to scholars like Caleb Ogonodi ‘27GS from Nigeria, a former fintech co-founder who came to the U.S. in 2023 looking for a fresh start and will be studying economics at Columbia. “Economics and law together can be powerful tools for justice. My goal is to use what I learn here to fight systemic inequality, especially the kind that affects immigrants and LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria, Africa, and right here in New York.”

Paulette Ceara Ortiz ‘27GS from Puerto Rico, who moved to New York by herself at age 18, worked relentless hours to keep her dream of education alive. For Ortiz, being an NYC Scholar means having a second chance. “It has changed the way I see myself—not just through accomplishments, but because it showed me that what once felt impossible is now within my grasp,” she said. “That realization is powerful.”

Together, this cohort reflects the heart of the BMCC–Columbia NYC Scholars Program—opening doors, affirming belonging, and transforming possibility into momentum. Their stories remind us that there is no single path to Columbia, only the relentless pursuit of knowledge and resolve to keep moving forward. As Ogonodi powerfully expressed: “It feels like someone believes in me and in the work I’ve put into building my future. It’s like Columbia tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘We believe in you, keep going.’”

In their own words, each scholar shares their journey to GS and what they hope to accomplish at Columbia.

Stephane Kakou

Major(s): Political Science and Sustainable Development

I was born with no signs of life and successfully resuscitated, an experience that has stayed with me as a quiet reminder that my presence here is purposeful and that my life carries meaning beyond myself.

My path to GS has been shaped by countless leadership experiences, service, and a strong curiosity about the world and people. I have worked as an Enrollment Coach, advising prospective students and families while supporting the admissions process, which deepened my interest in access to education.

I also turned one of my passions into founding UNIHEART global, a nonprofit initiative focused on impacting underprivileged communities through kindness. The possibility of turning compassion into action is amazing. Academically, I have long been interested in global development and research; as a high school student, I competed at the national level in Côte d’Ivoire in a research competition on African development, placing among the top finalists nationwide.

Beyond academics and leadership, I enjoy playing badminton in my spare time, cooking, learning new languages and musical instruments, and conducting independent research on ancient history and civilizations. These experiences collectively shaped my journey and ultimately led me to GS.

Htet Aung Lin

Major(s): Multimedia Programming and Design (BMCC); Information Science, Human-Computer Interaction track (Columbia)

Before coming to the U.S., I studied Civil Engineering at Yangon Technological University (YTU) for four years in Myanmar. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down universities nationwide, I began working full-time as a junior graphic designer at NexLabs, a marketing agency. That experience revealed my true passion at the intersection of design and technology: user experience (UX) design. In 2021, the military coup in Myanmar further disrupted my education, and I made the difficult decision to restart my academic journey in the United States.

At BMCC, I pursued Multimedia Programming and Design as a full-time student while balancing two on-campus jobs—as a peer mentor with the IMPACT Mentoring Program and as a social media designer for CUNY’s Office of Communications and Marketing. In just two years, I revived the BMCC Digital Arts Club as President, served as a Notion Campus Leader, and gained hands-on experience as a product design intern at Bearworks, Google Code Next, and Amplio.

As a nontraditional student, I see GS as the place to bring together my lived experiences with my academic and professional goals in information science through the Human-Computer Interaction track. I am eager to embrace the resources, challenges, and new opportunities that GS will offer.

Shaheim Kellum

Major(s): Small Business & Entrepreneurship (BMCC); Political Science (Columbia)

Over the last few years, I’ve experienced more than most students will ever see on their path back to college. I returned to school after 20 years away. I survived a stroke during my first semester and underwent heart surgery the next. I balanced fatherhood, marriage, health, and academics—and still earned a 4.0 grade-point average. I became a Kaplan Leadership Scholar and prepared for my transfer journey. I faced rejection from dream schools…and kept going. I navigated housing instability while mentoring others toward stability and success, built initiatives, served my community, and stayed true to my purpose—and ultimately graduated from CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College with honors.

Being an NYC Scholar means legacy. It means access. It means responsibility.

As a Black father, a first-generation college student, and a nontraditional scholar, being selected as a BMCC-Columbia NYC Scholar affirms that stories like mine belong at Columbia. It tells my children and everyone watching that discipline, faith, and purpose can take you anywhere.

This scholarship isn't just financial support. It's a bridge that connects community colleges to the Ivy League, and I plan to walk across it carrying everyone who comes after me.

So when I say this acceptance means everything, I’m not just talking about prestige. I’m talking about purpose. Columbia GS isn’t just a school, it’s a launchpad for nontraditional students like me, who bring lived experience, deep determination, and real-world vision into the classroom.

And I’m coming with all of it.

Caleb Ogonodi

Major(s): Economics

I began my studies in Nigeria, pursuing a law degree, but life took me in a different direction. In 2020, I co-founded Gpot, a fintech startup that helped students and local businesses make cashless payments. I led our operations, helped build the product, and guided the team to win hackathons. We raised funding, grew the platform, and eventually saw it acquired by a larger firm in 2021.

But along the way I also faced personal and societal hardships that challenged my path. I had to step back, regroup, and rebuild myself. That experience taught me resilience, humility, and gave me a deeper sense of purpose. When I came to the United States in 2023, I decided to start fresh, this time studying economics. I’m now continuing my journey at GS because I believe economics and law together can be powerful tools for justice. My goal is to use what I learn here to fight systemic inequality, especially the kind that affects immigrants and LGBTQ+ people in Nigeria, Africa, and right here in New York.

Being a BMCC–Columbia NYC Scholar means a lot to me. It feels like someone believes in me and in the work I’ve put into building my future. It’s like Columbia tapped me on the shoulder and said, “We believe in you, keep going.”

What makes me most excited about starting at Columbia is the feeling of being in a place that has so much history and so many new things happening at the same time. The school has been there for a long time, and many smart people have walked through those gates. Now I get to be part of that story. I want to meet new people from different places, hear their ideas, and share mine too.

Paulette Ceara Ortiz

Major(s): Psychology

I moved to New York City from Puerto Rico when I was just 18 years old, using the money I had saved throughout my life. I came here alone, filled with hope but unsure of what life had in store for me. I had no idea that this move would shape me in the most unexpected and transformative ways.

When I first arrived, I worked in the restaurant industry, sometimes up to 72 hours a week, just to pay the bills and clear the debt I owed to my previous institution in Puerto Rico. I had begun my studies at “La Iupi,” officially known as the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras. My plan was to continue my education online while living in New York. However, due to an outstanding balance and the university's transition back to in-person learning after the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing my education there was no longer possible. I had to take a gap year to figure things out.

During this time, I threw myself into work and began building a life in New York. I made new friends and got caught up in the idea that working full-time might be enough. But deep down, I never lost hope of going back to school.

That hope materialized when BMCC accepted me with open arms. From the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a sense of community and belonging that reminded me of home. I enrolled full-time while continuing to work full-time and, for a while, couch-surfed with friends just to make it work. It was one of the hardest periods of my life.

Fortunately, BMCC offered me support I never imagined—eventually providing me with housing in the dorms where I could live for free until graduation. It was a life-changing opportunity that gave me the stability I needed to focus on school.

After graduation, I anxiously waited to hear back from the GS Scholars Program. I waited for so long that I started making plans to return to Puerto Rico and continue my studies there. But I reminded myself to let go and trust in the process. I placed my future in God’s hands and accepted that whatever was meant for me would find its way.

And it did.

Looking back, I now understand that every obstacle was a necessary part of my journey. Moving to New York, taking a gap year, choosing the most accessible institution at the time—each step, even the hardest ones, brought me to where I am today. I’ve learned to trust the internal workings of the universe and to believe that what belongs to me will always find its way. Thankfully, it did.