University of Wisconsin-Superior freshman, Chiagozie “Gift” Uchegbu, is an ambitious student and a talented athlete.

Her home country of Nigeria doesn’t even have ice rinks, but she found a way to represent her country at the 2022 World Junior-B Curling Championships in Finland. 

And, when she arrived to attend UW-Superior, there wasn’t an active curling club. So, what did she do? She created one.

“Gift just arrived this fall, and she’s already showing that she has so much ‘get up and go,’” said Mark MacLean, UW-Superior’s director of International Admissions. “She’s hitting the ground running and shaping her own experiences. She is the type of student who will take advantage of all opportunities available to her here at UWS.” 

Journey of Blessings

Uchegbu has a compelling origin story.

“I come from Ozimo Umuduruegbeaguru, Onuimo Local Government, Imo State,” she said. 

In her family home, the Uchegbus (including her late father, Oscar, and her mother, Ijeoma, along with her three siblings) spoke both English and Igbo. They enjoyed eating unique Nigerian dishes, like Fufu and Oha soup.

She shared some details about her unique name.

“My first name is ‘Chiagozie,’ which means ‘God has blessed me,’” she explained. 

“I also have another name, ‘Ugonna,’ which means ‘pride of her father.’ My parents named me Gift because I am a blessing to them.”

Although two of her siblings attend college in Nigeria, Uchegbu is technically a first-generation college student as neither of her parents had the opportunity to attend college. 

Unlikely Path to Curling and Campus Leadership

Uchegbu is a talented curler, despite all odds.

“Curling is not a popular sport in Nigeria,” she said. “But the Nigeria Curling Federation is trying to make the sport more known.

“In Nigeria, we do not have ice [rinks],” she added. “We only practiced the basic curling skills available at our disposal and manually learned how to sweep.”

Unbelievably, Uchegbu and her team (which included her sister, Nelly) represented Nigeria at the 2022 World Junior-B Curling Championships.

“It was a memorable experience,” she said.  “When I found out I was going to school in America, I went on Instagram to check if they had a curling club, but the page seemed to be long-gone. When I arrived here, I learned that the curling club was no longer active, as all the members have graduated. 

“I spoke to the other Nigerian students here, Ore and Esther. They advised me that I can revive the club, and they would support me. So, I went to meet the Student Affairs Director, Allison Garver, with Mark MacLean’s help. Allison showed me what I would need to do. 

“I found an advisor and four other members willing to join. So, the club is about to get up and running,” said Uchegbu, who will be president of the club.

In addition to curling, Uchegbu is a marketing coordinator for the World Student Association, a member of the UW-Superior Marksmanship Club and social media manager of the Sustainability Club. She also has an on-campus job. 

Planning a Career

Uchegbu is pursuing some very rigorous coursework. She is double majoring in biology (pre-medicine), and health and economics, with a minor in chemistry. She explained her plans for post-graduation. 

“I plan to take the MCAT exam, which I would use to apply for medical school. I want to be a surgeon. I don’t know what exactly I want to specialize in, but I’ll go into surgery.” 

She even has her future career planned.

“I plan to return to my home country and assist in the health care development of the nation.”

UWS Experience

Thus far, Uchegbu is enjoying her experience at UWS.

“I selected UW-Superior because I’m drawn to this school’s commitment to community engagement and service,” she noted. “I believe in making a positive impact, and I’m excited to participate in community projects, clubs, and volunteer opportunities that will allow me to do so.”

She has already made some great friends here, too.

“Ore and Esther have become not just my friends, but my sisters. When I got here, they made me feel very welcome. They even came to my rescue when I got lost.

“My experience with the staff has also been amazing,” she added. “My teachers are wonderful. And, I’d like to give special thanks to Mark MacLean. He was the first person I met from UWS. He came to pick me up from the airport. He was very nice and friendly to me.”

When asked for the biggest culture shock in moving from Nigeria to Wisconsin, she shared, “The food was my biggest shock. It feels like they cook food without spice.”

Despite the disappointing lack of spice, Uchegbu would emphatically recommend UW-Superior to other international students.

“I love the school and everyone in it,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place to be.”