Bongani Dlamini - Unathi Mahlati - Andisiwe Sicwebu

Bongani Dlamini was the first Wilton Mkwayi International Fellow, arriving at Garrett College in western Maryland in August 2005. He came from South Africa.

He was a pre-engineering major at Garrett College and transferred to West Virginia University (WVU) and enrolled in their mining program in 2007. Bongani graduated from WVU with degrees in Mining Engineering and Geology in 2010. He continued at WVU earning a Master's degree in mining engineering in May 2012. He extracted three professional papers from his master’s thesis — two were published in professional journals and one was presented at a professional conference. 

In September 2012 he moved to Australia to start his professional career as a mining engineer.  He has served as a mining engineer working in the underground mines; he has worked for the national mining research organization and is now a private consultant. 

He believe his journey from South Africa, to the United States, and currently in Australia has provided him life time friendships throughout the world.  He says Garrett College provided the intimate and supportive environment that he needed being so far from home and family.  He is appreciative for all that CELD contributed to improve his life opportunities.  Without that help, Bongani's path would have been very different.

In 2006 CELD welcomed our second Mkwayi Fellow from South Africa, Unathi Mahlati. Unathi was enrolled in a pre-med program at Garrett College and transferred to Bucknell University. Unathi graduated from Bucknell University in 2010 with a major in neuro-biology. 

She worked in New York City while preparing to apply to graduate school. Unathi completed her first year of graduate school in media studies at the New School in New York City. She was interested in understanding the impact media has on citizens — an important topic in South Africa. 

She is now back in South Africa working in Johannesburg for the non-profit  Just Detention International - South Africa. 

When asked what being a Mkwayi Fellow meant to her, she responded that it altered the course of her life.  She stated, "I have friends in every corner of the world as a result.  What an enriching, eye-opening experience.  Some of my best memories were made at Garrett College and it will always hold a special place in my heart."

CELD received the third Wilton Mkwayi International Fellow at Garrett College in August 2007.  Andisiwe Sicwebu comes from Butterworth High School in the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa.

In May 2009 Andisiwe graduated from Garrett College. She competed for and received a full scholarship to Bucknell University and enrolled in the Environmental Engineering program.

Andi completed her bachelor’s degree in engineering at Bucknell University in May 2012. She was enrolled in a five-year program in Bucknell allowing her to complete her Masters degree in engineering in May 2013.  She accepted a job with an international construction company in Newark, NJ. She worked on the subway system in addition to construction of various buildings.  She recently left this lucrative occupation to relocate in Shenzhen, China. She is currently teaching English to her Chinese students and writing a travel blog.

She has always wanted to explore the world and her time in the United States helped her realize this dream. According to her, "My traveling life was heightened at 18 when I got the opportunity to study in the United States.  Up until that point, I had never left my home country of South Africa.  I was young, ecstatic and eager to explore the unknown."