Aggie Fulbright Scholar...

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Program has provided almost 300,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

Emmanuel Johnson

At 22 years old, Emmanuel Johnson stands before us drenched in the makings of the “American Dream.” Johnson is a first generation college student who has defied the odds to become the first North Carolina A&T State University Student Fulbright awardee. With the funds that come with the prestigious award, he will pursue a master’s degree in robotics at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

The pomp and circumstance that can come with the honor of being a history maker has led Johnson to reflect on how far he has come. It’s difficult to believe that the senior computer engineering student was once a high-school class clown frequenting the in-school suspension room.

As he prepares to graduate in spring 2013 with more stoles and accolades than the majority of his peers it’s even harder to believe that a former teacher could muster up the audacity to tell a young Johnson, “You will never amount to anything in life.” Luckily for Johnson, the words of his high-school mentor hold true, “Success is not based on your past or your current state it’s how hard you’re willing to work.”

North Carolina A&T: Emmanuel Johnson First Student Fulbright Awardee