Meet Germaine Uwimpuhwe ’21
Germaine Uwimpuhwe ’21
Computer Science
Germaine Uwimpuhwe was a high school student in Rwanda, Africa, when she realized a dream to study computer science in the United States. “I wanted to study in the U.S. because it has a strong education system. When I saw Seton Hill University online, I said, ‘Oh, I want to go there,’” she said.
Being from a foreign country, Germaine had a hard time adapting to college life while learning to speak a new language. “When I came to Seton HIll, I did not have good English-speaking skills, and I also had a hard time understanding English because of the different accents,” said Germaine. “However, everyone at Seton Hill is so welcoming, so if I needed them to repeat something, they were very nice about it.”
Germaine says that a major contributor to developing her English skills has been joining clubs on campus and becoming more involved. She is a member of Campus Ministry and treasurer for the Multicultural International Student Organization (MISO). “This has pushed me to learn English and given me additional practice outside of the skills I learn in class,” says Germaine. “These clubs have helped me become more outgoing and given me the confidence I need to pursue the things I want.”
“If I had to choose one thing I’ve been most proud of accomplishing at Seton Hill, it would be taking advantage of my potential. Whenever I see an opportunity come my way, I go for it,” says Germaine. She recalls during her first year at Seton Hill one of her professors told her not to be intimidated by networking early in her college career. She listened to that advice and was able to complete three internships during her time at Seton Hill - one in information technology, one in business administration, and she completed her third internship in New York City over the summer.
In addition to these internships, Germaine attributes her educational success to the scholarship opportunities she’s been given. “My mentor in the Grant Scholar program has helped me learn more about my career,” said Germaine, who puts a high value on the mentorship aspect of the program. “When you don’t have good guidance from others, you won’t be able to succeed the way you want. If more experienced people in their work share with me, it will help to maximize my potential skill,” she said. “Most of us make mistakes, and when you have a mentor, you begin to learn from your mistakes.”
Germaine’s goal is to get a job in the computer science field after graduating in December 2021, and she says Seton Hill is helping her achieve that goal.