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Mark DiOrio / Colgate University
Krystle McLaughlin '06 of Vassar College, addresses Colgate students during SophoMORE Connections around campus, Jan. 19, 2018 in Hamilton, N.Y.
Student Mentor in the Freshman Connection program Jade Maxwell on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 16, 2022. (Jay Grabiec)
Student Mentor in the Freshman Connection program Maria Angel on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 16, 2022. (Jay Grabiec)
Freshman Connection Mentors complete orientation and training on the campus of Eastern Illinois University on August 16, 2021. (Michael Babcock)
Connections 2020 brought together 900+ parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to celebrate Lab's strengths and the power of philanthropy. The event raised over $1.6M for financial aid and professional development.
(Photo by Jean Lachat)
Student Mentor in the Freshman Connection program Sidney Mayberry on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 16, 2022. (Jay Grabiec)
Thayer alum and GeoCloud CEO Abiodun Johnson '07 always dreamed of running his own business. As a child, he got his feet wet with small side gigs—selling candy in school, mowing lawns, selling burned CDs. He also spent time with his stepfather tinkering on projects, such as building miniature derby cars.
"My stepdad would mostly do the woodcutting and the trimming, but I helped him along the way, putting the wheels on, painting the car and putting it together and then ultimately racing it," said Abiodun. These experiences "lit the fire" for a career combining entrepreneurship and engineering. "I love problem-solving, and there's a lot of parallels between engineering and entrepreneurship in terms of looking at problems holistically and creating solutions."
Abiodun is also co-founder of Black Men Talk Tech, an organization to support black tech entrepreneurs. (His wife runs the "sister" organization, Black Women Talk Tech.) "We want to see more successful black entrepreneurs in the world—once you see yourself in the field, you become more confident about achieving your goals. I'm African Nigerian, and we have a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Likewise, I think communities can provide support and cultivate connections to the right people that can open doors."
Student Mentor in the Freshman Connection program Serena Voss on the campus of Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois on August 16, 2022. (Jay Grabiec)
Mark DiOrio / Colgate University
Colgate students attend SophoMORE Connections around campus, Jan. 19, 2018 in Hamilton, N.Y.
Connections 2020 brought together 900+ parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to celebrate Lab's strengths and the power of philanthropy. The event raised over $1.6M for financial aid and professional development.
(Photo by Jean Lachat)
Mark DiOrio / Colgate University
Krystle McLaughlin '06 of Vassar College, addresses Colgate students during SophoMORE Connections around campus, Jan. 19, 2018 in Hamilton, N.Y.