A final year student of the Department of Communication Design of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Mathias Charles Yabe, has been selected as part of the top 50 finalists for the 2022 Global Student Prize. Mathias Yabe was selected from almost 7,000 nominations and applications from over 150 countries.
The KNUST final year student was shortlisted for two major reasons. ‘During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mathias pioneered the development of a disability-friendly virtual learning platform for hearing impaired students studying during school closures, directly impacting the lives of 250 hearing impaired high school students in Ghana.’ ‘He also launched (AkoFresh); an innovative mobile solar-powered cold storage preservation technology that extends the shelf life of perishable crops from five (5) days to twenty-one (21) days, therefore reducing post-harvest losses by 50% and alleviating poverty and improving nutrition.’
The top 10 finalists of the 2022 Chegg.Org Global Student Prize are expected to be announced in late August this year. Out of the top 10 finalists, the winner will also be announced later in the year by the Global Student Prize Academy.
The Chegg.org Global Student Prize is an annual $100,000 award given to an exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers, society, and beyond. The Varkey Foundation partnered with Chegg.org to launch the annual Global Student Prize last year, a sister award to its $1 million Global Teacher Prize. It was established to create a powerful new platform that shines the light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere who, together, are reshaping the world for the better.
The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills programme. Part-time students, as well as students, enrolled in online courses.
Unveiling the 50 finalists, Sunny Varkey, the founder of the Varkey Foundation, said, “I extend my warmest congratulations to this year’s finalists. Their stories are a testament to the crucial role that education plays in building a better tomorrow for us all. It is the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges, from war and conflict to climate change to growing inequality. As time runs out to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, it is more important than ever to prioritise education so we can face the future with confidence.”
Management of KNUST Congratulates Mathias Charles Yabe and wishes him all the best and urged other students to emulate the creativity and zeal that he continues to exhibit.
