Ghanaian Man Who Sold Kerosene for School Fees Graduates with First-Class, Secures Six Scholarships Across US, UK, and Europe

Patrick Sarpong, a young Ghanaian who once sold kerosene to fund his education, graduated with first-class honors in Mineral Engineering and earned six scholarships to prestigious universities in the US, UK, and Europe, now pursuing a PhD at Penn State University.

Patrick Sarpong, a young Ghanaian who once sold kerosene to fund his education, has achieved extraordinary success by graduating with first-class honors in Mineral Engineering and earning six scholarships to prestigious universities in the US, UK, and Europe.

Patrick, a graduate of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), shared his story on LinkedIn and with YEN Ghana, expressing deep gratitude to everyone who supported him through numerous challenges. Raised by his grandmother, who struggled to cover his school fees, Patrick sold kerosene and washing soap to help make ends meet. His hard work and intelligence were recognized early on, and he received a scholarship from his school’s proprietor, which covered his studies from primary school through junior high.

Continuing his strong academic performance, he graduated from UMaT with honors, was named Best Disciplined Graduating Student, and served as the President of the Students’ Christian Council (SCC). He hoped to earn one scholarship to pursue graduate studies, but his achievements brought multiple offers, including partial scholarships from George Washington University and Michigan Technological University in the US, and the University of Aberdeen and Dundee University in the UK. He also received a full scholarship from Japan University of Science and Technology and the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship for a master’s program at three European universities: Ghent University in Belgium, TU Freiberg in Germany, and Uppsala University in Sweden.

Choosing the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, Patrick enrolled in the SINReM International Master’s program across these institutions. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University in the US, reflecting on his journey with gratitude for the blessings that have brought him so far.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION