Gallaudet Student Recognized For Academics, Athletics, Leadership

SILVER SPRING, MD —Blessed Mbogo, a pre-med student at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., is one of four students chosen out of 167 applicants to receive the 2023 Graeme Clark Scholarship.

Named for the inventor of the Cochlear implant, the scholarship recognizes academic excellence, athletic achievement, success in internships, and leadership among individuals in the hearing loss community, according to a release.

“All of the applicants are exceptional in many ways,” said René Courtney, vice president and eneral manager of recipient services a Cochlear Americas, in a release. “This year’s selection process was challenging, and we are in awe of the achievements and aspirations of our applicants. We recognize that many of our recipients choose different paths forward and as a result we are excited to launch a new Vocational Scholarship this year to support even more recipients as they reach for their dreams.”

A Ugandan immigrant, Mbogo received his Cochlear implant as a third grader in the U.S. That event transformed his life, inspiring him to excel in academics. He also pursued a newfound passion for basketball, eventually becoming the first deaf captain of Rockville High School's basketball team.

“The mental awakening that followed my acquisition of Cochlear technology played a role in my developing of a simple philosophy that anything can be earned if my actions express my desire and reflect the passion I speak of,” Mbogo said, in a release.

With the goal of becoming a physician-scientist, the 20-year-old Silver Spring resident has completed a number of internships, from working in Gallaudet's STEM department and in the University of Michigan's Department of Family Medicine.

As a player at Gallaudet, Mbogo became one of the top 20 elite deaf basketball players in America. He was recently named to Team USA and will represent the U.S. in the Pan-American Basketball Championship.