Samuel Aye-Gboyin (BA ’18) has received two prestigious awards at the University of Florida in recognition of his outstanding work in digital art and design.

Aye-Gboyin, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Design, was awarded the Conceptual Depth Award at the University of Florida’s 2024 Generative AI Days Competition.

He also received a Certificate of Outstanding Merit from the College of the Arts, acknowledging his artistic insight and academic performance.

But behind these achievements lies a powerful story of resilience and purpose.

Born and raised in Accra, Samuel’s journey began with a sketchbook and a dream. His passion for visual storytelling was nurtured at KNUST, where he studied Communication Design with a focus on animation and motion graphics.

During his time on campus, he served as President of the Faculty of Art's Art Society and later as a Teaching Assistant in Computer Graphics. He credits his experience at KNUST for laying the foundation for both his creative and academic pursuits.

“KNUST gave me more than technical skills,” Samuel says. “It taught me critical thinking, adaptability, and the courage to imagine new worlds.”

Samuel’s graduate journey in the U.S. began at Eastern Illinois University, where he earned a master’s degree in graphic design. He is now combining his Ghanaian heritage with cutting-edge digital practices in photography, animation, video, and interactive installations, art forms that explore complex themes of memory, migration, and identity.

As an instructor at the University of Florida, Samuel teaches Digital Imaging, guiding students not only through software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro, but also through the deeper work of storytelling and self-expression.

“I want students to see themselves as authors of their own narratives; to know they can shape the world with their ideas, he stated.

While his work is gaining international attention, Samuel remains grounded in a mission to give back. Inspired by the mentorship and support he received during his time at KNUST and beyond, he hopes to establish programs in Ghana that offer design and technology education to young creatives, especially those with limited access to resources.

“I’ve been shaped by people who believed in me, especially when I didn’t fully believe in myself, now I want to be that person for someone else," he reflects.

KNUST is proud to celebrate Samuel as a shining example of the university’s legacy of excellence, creativity, and global impact.