Latest news with #Olatunde
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Nigerian student happy to find himself, excellent education at MSU Texas
When Samuel Olatunde first dreamed of coming to America to attend college, he thought basketball would be a part of it. Duke University came to mind. But Olatunde realized after some time that he was good in basketball in his area, but it wouldn't be his future occupation. He still wanted to come to the United States and found Midwestern State University and Wichita Falls. 'My dad's plan was always to send me abroad to study. He wanted me to go to the UK, but I wanted to go to the U.S.,' Olutunde said. 'I had heard of Texas but not Wichita Falls.' Starting college in 2020 as the world was experiencing COVID-19, it was the online presence of MSU Texas that gained his attention. But he was excited to come to campus to continue his educational journey, and he earned his bachelor of science from McCoy College of Science, Mathematics and Engineering in December 2024. And he stayed here for graduate school. He initially didn't want many friends and admitted he wasn't the best at socializing. 'That helped me academically. I became friends with my teachers, and they were supportive,' he said. He finished with a double major in computer science and mathematics and embraced his chances to do research. His message to others would be to try research. 'You never know until you do it, and you might enjoy it," he said. After grad school at MSU Texas, he hopes to land a job that involves research. 'It's amazing here at MSU,' Olatunde said. 'It was a beautiful journey. One of the best things for me was it was a smaller school and I had access to (faculty). The support you get here is great. I had a lot of ups and downs and went through a lot of growth. I continued to grow in school and socially.' His favorite professors included associate professors of computer science Eduard Colmenares-Diaz and Terry Griffin, who was Samuel's adviser and got him started in research, and Marcos Lopez, associate professor of mathematics. His first MSU experience was an online class from Tiffany Zeigler, and he learned much about the rules for writing papers. 'I slowly picked it up. I had a very terrible relationship with writing (as a youth), but I've understood I can be really good at it. It takes a lot mentally, and I tend to spend a whole lot of time writing," Olatunde said. Graduation in December was a milestone for him. His parents — dad Sayo and mother Bukola — came to celebrate with him. He said they always had high goals for him. It was quite a journey, but he showed that belief in him was not misplaced. He just wasn't destined to be an NBA star. 'They would always help and support me, and here my confidence has grown socially and academically. I'm more outspoken and not afraid. (MSU) has helped me grow holistically in every aspect of my life,' Olutunde said. More: MSU schedules health fair More: Wichita Falls restaurant inspections: How did they do Feb. 12-24? This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Nigerian student happy to find himself, excellent education at MSU Texas
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kelly and Akinola among winners at Irish Indoors
Derry Track Club's Conor Kelly's 400m triumph and Bori Akinola's dethroning of four-in-a-row seeking Israel Olatunde in the 60m were among the highlights at the Irish Indoor Athletics Championship at Abbotstown on who won bronze at last summer's European Under-18 Championships outdoors, bettered the national under-20 record of 46.63 he set in Saturday's heats when he took victory in 46. 54 seconds. The 17-year-old finished exactly a second ahead of UCD's David Bosch as Athenry talent Sean Doggett had to settle for third place in 47.69 with Jack Raftery pulling up because of injury on the back improving his own Irish 100m record outdoors to 10.12 seconds last summer, Olatunde went into the 60m final as a strong favourite but UCD's Akinola triumphed in 6.61 AC athlete Max O'Reilly took second in 6.69 with Olatunde having to settle for third in 6.72 - 0.15 seconds outside the personal best he set in women's 60m was won by Killarney's Sarah Leahy who clocked 7.39 seconds as she held off former champion Ciara Neville. Sharlene Mawdsley clinched her expected women's 400m title as her winning time of 51.91 left her well clear of Phil Healy (53.25) and North Down's Rachel McCann (53.37).Northern Ireland winners over the weekend included Tyrone duo Roisin Flanagan and Sommer took a dominant women's 3000m win in 9:14.02 with high jumper Lecky clinching gold in 1.81m as her first-time clearance over the winning height earned victory on countback over Dundalk athlete Tara O' Sarah Healy set a championship record of 4:08.76 when dominating the women's men's metric mile title was successfully defended by Olympic semi-finalist Cathal Doyle who won a slow tactical race in 3:58.10 as the previously Lagan Valley affiliated, UCD's Lughaidh Mallon (4:00.61) and Annadale Striders' Brhane Gebrebrhan (4:00.85) took silver and Shanahan won the women's 800m title in 2:07.82 with the men's title in the absence of Mark English going to Bohermeen's Kevin McGrath who clocked 1: Sunday winners included Clonmel's Sean Tobin in the men's 3000m as he triumphed in 8:09.18 by edging out James Gormley from the Tyrone-based Carmen Runners by 0.01 seconds with Candour's Callum Morgan (8:11.27) completing the podium positions. Saturday's victors included Sarah Lavin (8.11) in the women's 60m hurdles and impressive men's 200m winner Marcus Lawler who set a championship record of 20.74 seconds.
