Alumni Spotlight: Telvin Kameta ('24)
For Seattle Central alumnus and Commitment Scholarship recipient, Telvin Kameta (‘24), success isn’t just about asking the right questions — it’s about asking them, period.
To succeed as an international student navigating the U.S. education system, Kameta needed to conduct his own research and ask for guidance along the way. Empowered by the Swahili saying kuuliza si ujinga — “asking questions is not ignorance” — Kameta found the financial and community support to thrive at Central and passed that information to his fellow students through Information Central.
During Kameta’s childhood in Mombasa, Kenya, his family embraced a balance between sports and academics and emphasized that a strong work ethic was required to succeed in both. When he wasn’t swimming or playing soccer, Kameta was expected to study hard, knowing that his parents would be around to support him with his homework if needed.
Born into poverty, Kameta’s father was acutely aware of the impact education has on social mobility, job prospects, and quality of life. “My dad always told us that even if you’re not as good in education, you still have to do it,” he explained.
kuuliza si ujinga — asking questions is not ignorance
After moving up in his own career — by becoming the chairman for the Boxing Association of Kenya — Kameta’s father was able to transition his children from the local education system to an Aga Khan Education Services school in Mombasa, a global education system that would expand Kameta’s opportunities to study outside of Kenya. “That's when my mind broadened,” he said. “We were told that we can reach for the moon and the possibilities of going to the U.S., Canada, Australia were very possible.”
As Kameta neared high school graduation in 2020, he considered studying in the United States, inspired by his older sister who had already completed her four-year degree in Michigan. Kameta then placed his educational journey on hiatus, instead focusing on personal growth and skill development while simultaneously preparing for college applications. It was during this period that he found Seattle Central College in his college research. “Seattle was one of the leading cities for IT,” he explained. “I’ve always been interested in IT, I just never knew specifically what I wanted to do. [with it]”
After applying to and being accepted into Seattle Central, Kameta entered a whirlwind timeline of securing his visa, packing his belongings, and boarding multiple long flights. “It was my first time leaving Africa, so I was just soaking it all in,” he said.
Despite the exhausting journey, Kameta was thrilled to arrive in Seattle, though he admitted to an initial lack of research about the city’s notoriously wet weather. “I didn’t know it rained as much as it does,” he said. But that wasn’t enough to dampen his enthusiasm for his new life in the U.S., a fresh start in a city that felt full of potential. “Big city, big dreams, big goals — I was ready for that challenge,” he added.
Kameta recalls that his first few months in the United States were somewhat isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions eased and his classes returned to in-person sessions, Kameta knew he needed to do more than just show up to feel involved.
There is a crazy, crazy amount of resources that are available. You're not alone in college... you just need to talk to people.
Kameta was physically present on campus, engaging with his professors, and taking the time to interact with his peers. “I was so glad I started getting out there,” he reflected. “That’s when I started seeing the good side of college.”
However, as an international student, Kameta was not eligible for most forms of financial aid offered at the college. Naturally, Kameta took it upon himself to do his own research and seek answers elsewhere.
Kameta landed part-time jobs at the MAC and at Information Central and eventually involved himself with Student Leadership. It was his job at Information Central that not only provided him with a database of information at his fingertips to answer all his own questions but also enabled him to help other students who didn’t know how or where to ask those questions in the first place.
“I really tried my best to give [advice] to other students whenever they came walking into Info Central,” Telvin recalled, noting that he would often provide extra information that they hadn’t considered. Kameta recalled several instances of receiving thanks from an advice seeker in the hallway or receiving a follow up “thank you” email for his efforts.
Near the end of his second year at Seattle Central, financial strain became a pressing issue in Kameta’s family, and he was unsure of how he would pay for the remainder of his education. But thanks to his resources at Information Central and his proactive efforts in building relationships with mentors and counselors, he was able to better navigate these challenges.
A crucial connection Kameta made was with Margaret Jadczak, Central’s Retention and Re-Engagement Manager. Kameta approached Jadczak after learning about the Commitment Scholarship, which provides financial relief for students facing challenges in paying tuition, and she aided him through a smooth application process.
“It was super easy ... and I got a response within 30 minutes — I was shocked,” he said. This scholarship covered the tuition he needed to complete his associate degree. “That’s a whole lot of money back home.”
With the financial burden lifted, Kameta could focus on his studies without the looming fear of being dropped from classes. Kameta’s proactive approach to finding resources also helped him tap into other opportunities for financial support, like funding from Project Baldwin. “There is a crazy, crazy amount of resources that are available,” he said. “You're not alone in college... you just need to talk to people.”
Although he had 15 credits left — which he completed in December 2024 — Kameta walked across the stage at graduation in Spring 2024. Watching him from the stands were his parents, who had embarked on their first-ever trip to the United States to watch their son graduate.
For Kameta, graduating wasn’t just about earning a degree; it was about achieving something concrete and lasting, about accumulating a host of skills, knowledge, and connections. “You have that forever,” he said.
Kameta now lives in Missouri with his sister and her husband. In May of this year, Kameta landed a Technical Support job at an IT Consulting company, Wipro.
As he moves into this new chapter of his life, Kameta continues to reflect on the lessons imparted to him during his time at Seattle Central, especially how the college forced him to improve his communication skills. “Everything that came out of Seattle Central College, from the challenges that I faced and to the successes that I had, they shaped me to become who I am now.”