By 16-Year Old Oluwatofunmi Oteju Emerges Leader of the Year In America’s Augsburg University
A freshman of Nigeria descent at the Augsburg University, Oluwatofunmi Oteju, has been awarded the Emerging Leader of the Year award for 2018 by the University held on the 8th of April, 2018.
Tofunmi as she is called amongst her colleagues is just 16 years old and in her first year at the Augsburg University.
The award designed to recognize students who participated in the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) during 2017 fall semester, was used by the University to celebrate students who demonstrated active involvement in student activities, student governance, and student life at Augsburg during the academic year.
In recommending Oluwatofunmi for the award, her international student advisors, James Tresland Porter and Angela Bonfigilio wrote that she exhibited calm presence and showed strong leadership within her short stay on campus.
“In her short time here, despite her age, she has shown extreme maturity and leadership on campus, “ her Advisor wrote in her recommendation form.
The recommendation stated further that Tofunmi was awarded for her selfless contributions in the area of guiding International Students in settling into the University environment.
“She has stepped up this semester to come and welcome the new students and on her own has made sure to reach out to the new students and make them feel at home. She has already shown interest in being a board member next year for ISO and bringing her skills and talents to the group by helping with planning for ISO Banquet.
“What has really impressed me about Tofunmi this semester is that she has taken on the task on her own to mentor the new first year students. She has tried to help them feel included on campus, helping them with time management, finding roommates and figuring out how things works, “ the University wrote in Tofunmi ‘s profile.
The University stated that Tofunmi impressed it with her confidence in navigating Augsburg and the opportunities around her with humility.
