Capstone Editing is very happy to introduce this year’s winner of our Laptop Grant for Postgraduate Coursework Students, Eyale Teshager.
Eyale was kind enough to share his story with Capstone Editing so we could share it with you. His hard work, dedication and outstanding academic achievements are what led us to select him as the winner for this grant.
Eyale is an Ethiopian refugee who left his country when he was seven years old. He was then fortunate enough to grow up in Kenya with his family—his two loving parents and five brothers and sisters. Eyale is now a proud Australian citizen after being sponsored by his aunt a few years ago.
Eyale finished high school in Kenya with outstanding grades in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education taught by the University of Cambridge, which enabled him to be awarded an international scholarship at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, in the United States. He spent five years living on campus in Mercyhurst with no family other than his older brother who also studied at Mercyhurst. During that time, they were only able to visit their family twice, so Erie became their home and they supported themselves with numerous part-time jobs.
In his undergraduate degree, Eyale double majored in finance and computer systems, and minored in accounting, graduating with magna cum laude with honours and as a college division II athlete playing soccer. The only downside to his successful and fun college career was that afterwards, Eyale struggled to find a job in his field as an immigrant in the United States with strict visa requirements.
So Eyale left the United States to come to Australia, to be with his family and thinking he would have a better chance of finding a job being a citizen. After searching for about four months, Eyale realised that he would have a better chance of gaining suitable employment if he completed postgraduate studies first.
Eyale is now studying a Master of Accounting at Griffith University, Nathan campus, and preparing for two more Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) exams. He successfully passed two CPA exams last semester with a High Distinction in Financial Reporting and a Distinction in Ethics & Governance.
Eyale still plays soccer competitively as a semi-professional in the Brisbane Premier League. He is on track to graduate in June 2018 with his master’s and will have passed all six CPA exams too by then.
He is currently on the lookout for an entry level, internship, or graduate accounting or finance roles that he can hopefully begin in July 2018. Eyale is passionate about finding a job in his field so he can support his family.
Capstone Editing is so pleased to be able to assist Eyale in his studies and future career through providing him with a computer and all the software and accessories he requires.
