Abie Kamara

Hometown: San Jose, California

Major: Business, concentrating in marketing, international business and entrepreneurship. Class of 2008.

Background: She and her parents moved to San Jose from Sierra Leone in West Africa when Kamara was six years old. While in high school, she took several math classes, leadership classes and was involved in the Associated Student Body and student government. She says a return trip to Sierra Leone, where a brutal civil war ended in 2001, “really changed the way I look at things.” After seeing the refugee camp victims—many of whom were children missing arms and legs—Kamara decided to help. She and other members of Sacramento State’s African Student Association are working to help Free the Children, an organization that builds schools throughout the third world.

Influences: “My parents. They’ve always pushed me toward education and they always make it available.”

Highlight: Of the University’s small-campus atmosphere, she says, “Sacramento State feels more like a community. I’m always meeting new people.”

Proudest Accomplishment: “I just got into two honor societies (Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi).”

Destination: Aiming for a career as a business owner, and would like to run an events-planning service. “I’m probably going to be going to graduate school here and get my master’s degree.” After that: “I might move. I do want to live on the East Coast or Southern California. I just want to see different places.”