Bonface Muniu wanted to travel, so, a few years ago he packed his bags and left his native Kenya for the United States. “I wanted to experience different things, different cultures,” he said. Not long into his American experience Muniu decided he wanted to go to college.
Muniu started at South Seattle College and earned his associate’s degree. He took a year off, and is now starting at UW Tacoma this fall. The 28-year-old is majoring in biomedical sciences and wants to become a physician assistant. Over the summer he signed up for the Global Impact Course through UW Tacoma. The program is a partnership between the University and Seattle Colleges offering students a service-learning-abroad program with a focus on healthcare, sustainable communities, and volunteer service in the developing world. Muniu spent two weeks in Peru. “I worked with students and healthcare professionals on different projects including providing water filtration for local communities,” he said.
When he’s not in school Muniu works for a private healthcare provider. He spends his free time volunteering. Muniu’s decision to become a physician assistant is an extension of his commitment to service. “I want to be able to help others,” he said.