As a native of Zambia, John Kalyondo ’20 did not grow up dreaming of attending Texas A&M University. His passion for learning was the motivator behind both coming to America for his college education and later giving others that opportunity through funding a scholarship.
Kalyondo wanted to receive the best education, so the prestigious degree offered by the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering and the university’s core values made Texas A&M his choice for college.
“The community at Texas A&M is like no other, I have built long-lasting relationships both in my professional and personal life,” Kalyondo said.
While the transition from Zambia to Texas A&M was not easy, Kalyondo quickly fell in love with the university and the Aggie family and soon felt at home. He got involved with the American Association of Drilling Engineers and the Texas A&M student chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Experiencing the diverse community that Texas A&M fosters to help students succeed is something that Kalyondo was proud to be a part of.
As Aggies, we are called to be community leaders with compassion.
“One way of leading is helping those who are less fortunate, like me, in fulfilling their dream,” Kalyondo said.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit during his time as a student. In addition to being an international student far from home, Kalyondo was faced with the additional challenge of finishing school in the middle of a lockdown. Amidst the hardship, he was supported and inspired by the generosity of the Aggie family. Through scholarships and other financial assistance, he was able to finish his college education at Texas A&M and fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an engineer.
Two years into his career, Kalyondo now feels it is important to give back to the university that supported his journey. After experiencing the impact that scholarships have in propelling students toward their dreams, he established the PETE Class of ’20 Endowed Scholarship for petroleum engineering students.
“My hope is that this gift transfigures the life of at least one student as mine was transformed by the generous donations of fellow Aggies before me,” Kalyondo said.
Growing up, Kalyondo was taught that knowledge is not worth having if you cannot share it with others. He hopes that scholarships from his endowment will allow students to continue chasing their dreams and to share their knowledge with others.
How To Give
Endowments supporting the students in the college have an immeasurable impact on their education. If you are interested in supporting the College of Engineering and its departments or would like more information on how you can give, please contact one of our development officers.