b"NEW EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO BRINGGLOBAL OPPORTUNITY TO SOU M The Essiehs success provided an opportunity to support other Ghanaians in att Essieh 82 MBA 84 came to SOU as a young student unaware that his academic experience would lead him to nd his true purpose in life. Matt grewtheir educational pathway. The Essieh Family Fund, established by Matt, Ella, up in a small rural farming community in Ghana where many did not haveand their son Kwame represents the fruits of their accomplishments and is access to education. As luck would have it, he was chosen from 40 students inresourced from the familys success. Our nonprot work was started because his class to attend a high school supported by three Peace Corps volunteers.of my husbands passion to give back to others and pay forward his Upon completion of that education, one of those volunteerswhose familyexperiences, said Emmanuella. He knows what it is like to have dreams and lived in Grants Passfacilitated his travel to southern Oregon where heaspirations but to feel hopeless about not being able to realize them. We want enrolled at SOU. to help students have an opportunity to get a solid education and a better future, she said. Matt describes SOU as a place that opened his eyes to the world, particularly with the vibrant community of students who were living in Aspen Hall. HeA core mission of the Essieh Family Fund is to provide nancial aid and developed friendships with people from all over the world. He attributed hiseducational assistance for students in Ghana, and a gift to SOU from the subsequent success in business and entrepreneurship directly to hisEssieh family will facilitate an exchange between Ghana and SOU. It is the rst experience at SOU.of its kind between SOU and an African country. Thanks to my education at SOU, my worldview was greatly expanded. With the success Ive been blessed Matt met his Nigerian-born wife Emmanuella 82while they werewith, the time has come for me to pay it forward, said Matt.international students. There's no way we would have met in Africa, said Matt. Emmanuella agreed, I wouldnt have looked at my husband twice if IStill in its infancy, the exchange program will begin as an online opportunity had met him in Africa, she laughed. College is a great equalizer.and evolve into an in-person international effort. It aims to foster cultural exchange by giving students the opportunity to collaborate with peers from Matt is founder and CEO of Beaverton-based EAI Information Systems, aaround the world. The goal is for students to learn about, appreciate, and company that develops Financial Services Technology for banks, brokerage,respect different cultures while working together to solve problems. and insurance companies to manage investments. Emmanuella is theMatt hopes these interactions will lead to transformative life experiences, 6 co-founder and president of KMJ Asset Management in Portland, a residentialparticularly for students from rural areas who may gain a new perspective property investment and management rm. on the world, much like he did."