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International alumnus José Carlos García Barahona, who recently graduated from the College of Engineering and Polymer Science, has been awarded the prestigious Outstanding International Student Award by the Ohio International Consortium (OIC).

García came to °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ by way of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He’s currently pursuing a career in industrial automation and controls as a systems engineer at RoviSys Building Technologies in Aurora, Ohio.

“I feel incredibly honored to have been selected for this award. It fills me with °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ pride and a renewed sense of purpose to keep pushing boundaries and giving back to my community, while striving for excellence in everything I do,” said García.

The OIC Outstanding International Student Award, which includes a $1,500 prize, is an annual honor given to international students who have excelled academically while making significant contributions to their campus and local communities.

From the moment García arrived on campus, he immersed himself in °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ’s exceptional campus community, founding the International Student Organization. This organization, which began as a vision shared with a few peers, has since grown into a thriving community with more than 80 members, providing support and a sense of belonging to international students from around the globe.

García also served as president of his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, where he led his peers in numerous community service projects and campus activities. Additionally, García’s role as a social media ambassador for °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ allowed him to creatively showcase the University’s vibrant campus life to prospective students and the broader community.

And he’s just as grateful for his undergraduate experience as he is for the nomination for this award from °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ’s International Center.

“By being involved in student organizations and other extracurriculars, I obtained invaluable real-world insights that allowed me to improve my leadership and communication abilities,” García said. “That, along with the support and guidance from my professors and peers, played a crucial role in preparing me for the challenges ahead."

In 2022, García was featured in °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ’s episode of The College Tour during season six to highlight student organizations and leadership opportunities. In his segment, he shared how °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ provided him with much more than just an education, and opportunities to grow, lead and make a lasting impact to be more than his major.

Watch García’s segment on The College Tour!

Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476 or cboyd@uakron.edu.