Colorado State University Student from Ghana Obtains Prestigious Award to Serve World’s Poor

Note to Editors: A photo of Sule Amadu is available with the news release at http://www.newsinfo.colostate.edu/.

A Colorado State University student from Ghana who earned two master’s degrees in a record two-and-a-half years has been named an Acumen Fund Fellow, a prestigious award dedicated to serving the poor in developing countries.

CSU student Sule Amadu was chosen from a pool of 300 candidates. He completed two master’s degrees at CSU in mechanical engineering through the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory in the College of Engineering and in business through the Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise program in the College of Business.

Established in 2006, the Acumen Fund Fellows Program is a 12-month fellowship for individuals dedicated to helping citizens of developing nations with business, operational and professional skills needed to effect change. Fellows spend one year working with local entrepreneurs, gaining intensive experience in price performance, logistics, distribution systems, scaling and innovative technology.

"I have admired Sule’s dedication, commitment and passion for his studies, for his research, and have watched him excel in each of his pursuits at CSU," says Bryan Willson, director of the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.  "We are very proud of the work that Sule has done – and proud of the great things that we know Sule will do as an Acumen Fellow and beyond."

Amadu has participated in several projects within Willson’s laboratory and is an original team member of PowerMundo, an international venture that manages a global distribution network for healthy and affordable technologies to empower people in developing countries. The company, which started as a project for the Global Social and Sustainable Enterprise master’s degree program in the College of Business, is now operating in Peru.

Acumen Fund Fellows are talented individuals of diverse geographies, backgrounds, religions and ages who have decided on a career of venture philanthropy.

Amadu will begin training for the year-long fellowship in September in New York City.

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