Southeastern international student looks forward to graduation, graduate school

Press Release Date: 5-3-2011

DURANT, Okla. – Joel Teko is one of many seniors looking forward to the May 14 Commencement at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

In addition to receiving his degree in Biotechnology, commencement will also offer an opportunity for Joel to reunite with his family. The Teko family will be traveling from their home in Gabon (a state in west central Africa of 1.5 million people) to America for the first time to watch Joel walk across the stage at Paul Laird Field.

"They are very excited," Joel said. "Both of my parents (father is an accountant and mother is a merchant) have worked very hard to pay for my college education. I am very appreciative of the educational opportunities that I have received in this country."

Teko is one of 21 international students from 14 countries who will graduate during Spring Commencement exercises. This includes four graduates from Teko's state of Gabon.

After completing high school, Teko came to the United States at age 18. He spent his first two years at Grayson County College in Denison, Texas, before transferring to Southeastern. And he's not through – he's already been accepted and received a scholarship to graduate school at Oklahoma State University, where he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, with an eye towards the field of medical research.

"Southeastern has been a great experience for me – I have loved it," he said. "My professors were excellent and they pushed me to work hard. Dr. (Nancy) Paiva and Dr. (Teresa) Golden have helped me a lot."

Paiva also served as Teko's academic advisor.

"Joel is just a wonderful student," Paiva said. "You always want to have more students like him – students who work hard and who are enthusiastic about what they are doing."

Paiva noted that Teko honed his research skills last summer when he worked as an intern in plant biology at the Noble Foundation. "The internship provided him some good experience and also elevated his confidence," she said.

Golden was also complimentary of his work in the classroom.

"Joel really showed an interest in research and he really shined in my class," she said. "I'm very proud of him – he will be an outstanding graduate student."

Both professors noted that Teko has worked very hard to improve his language skills, having learned to speak English only after having arrived in America.

Outside the classroom, Teko is the president of the Southeastern International Students Association, is captain of the Southeastern club soccer team, and is a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

He has presented projects at Oklahoma Research Day and at the National ACS convention in Anaheim, California.

Although there are admittedly some cultural differences between Gabon and the United States, Teko said he has adjusted, for the most part.

"I had a hard time at first with American food,'' he laughed. "In my country, we eat very spicy food. So I've learned to eat a lot of Mexican and Italian food here."