As a native of Ghana, Lemuel Inkoom saw firsthand how those around him were hesitant to receive medical care when they needed it most.
Many Ghanaians feel as though their religious beliefs alone are enough to help them heal, he said.
Inkoom
“They believe that getting human help underestimates the strength of the gods, thus, insulting to the gods,” Inkoom said. “I want to help them understand that the gods give humans the knowledge to help each other. My goal is to bridge the gap between superstition and medicine.”
Inkoom, who moved to Columbus in 2017 and graduated from high school this past spring, set his sights on The University of Toledo for the pharmacy program. And then he was awarded a full ride through the prestigious University of Toledo Presidential Scholarship.
As a first-semester Rocket, he is eager to find his fit in the Honors program and the campus community through new experiences as a member of the Black Student Union, Black and Latino Excellence Transition Program and the First Love Church.
“I’m really enjoying being an Honors student,” Inkoom said. “In high school, I thought Honors meant just harder classes, but at UToledo, it means smaller class sizes. Some classes are longer, but I’m learning more than I would outside of Honors.”
“Lemuel is an amazing student,” said Dr. Heidi Appel, dean of the Jesup Scott Honors College. “He represents the best of Honors in his academic talents and motivation to help others. He may be shy sometimes to share, but he is also a musician who loves to improvise on the piano.”
Inkoom suggests that anyone considering submitting an application for a Presidential Scholarship should apply. Those selected for the scholarship receive a full scholarship that covers tuition, fees, room and board, a $3,000 stipend for an off-campus educational experience — and generations of alumni to connect and share memories with.
“We had one event this semester with Presidential Scholarship alumni,” Inkoom said, “and they taught us a lot about preparing for an interview and planning for the future.”
As a UToledo student and after graduation, he said he hopes to advance pharmacy by researching ways to bring a humanitarian viewpoint into healthcare.
