Embassy applauds MUST student for outstanding performance

The United States Embassy in Lilongwe recently congratulated Lucy Kalindekafe, a Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST student and 2022 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD) participant, for being recognized as the most outstanding female student in the program.

Lucy spent a semester at Bennett College in North Carolina and gave a speech to all her peers at the end-of-program summit in Washington, DC.

In an earlier interview, Lucy hailed the initiative as being very helpful.

Lucy, a fourth year Medical Imaging student, was studying at Bernett College in North Carolina as an exchange student since August last year.

She was also a shadow learner at Moses H Cone Memorial Hospital in the same province.

The Global UGRAD is a program sponsored by the US Department of State and World Learning Inc and selects outstanding undergraduate students (with at least a year to go) from developing countries that have shown great leadership qualities, academic excellence and community service.

The one semester program brings these future leaders to the United States to experience the US higher education, gain critical professional skills and explore new cultures and values.

Lucy, who was among 300 students selected from a list of 21,000 applicants for the 2022 cohort, said the experience was amazing and “a great boost to my academic life”.

“I have learnt a lot. I was exposed to machinery which we only learn in theory. l also learnt about other machines liker 3T MRI, CT scanner, 1.5 T MRI and Ultrasound scanner. Apart from that, I visited departmental sections that we don’t have in Malawi, like Molecule Imaging and Interventional Radiography, all thanks to working at the biggest hospital in Greensboro,” she said.

Lucy was also very appreciative to lecturers and other staff at the Medical Imaging Section at MUST for continuously sending her class for practicals.

“It is because of my abundant work experience that I am allowed in all the departments in the US hospitals. Otherwise, my access would have been limited,” she said.

“This exposure will surely improve Radiography at MUST because whenever I saw new things I made sure to communicate and share with my friends back home.”