Success Story: Meet Collin
Ugandan native Collin Mbabazi came to the United States with big dreams. In addition to exploring a different part of the world, he had visions of becoming a first-generation college student.
“It’s been two years since I moved to Chicago from a small town in East Africa called Entebbe, which is also on a lake,” says Mbabazi. “I wanted to get into work first and figure out what I wanted to study because I knew higher education was going to be expensive, even with scholarships.”
One by one, he’d visit schools and then cross them out—until he found St. Augustine College at Lewis University. Senior Admissions Counselor Rossangela Adames greeted him on his first visit and walked him through the process of enrolling in St. Augustine’s business school.
“One of the things that was really striking to me was the flexibility. With classes on Saturdays, it’s very flexible, which I appreciate,” continues Mbabazi, who leads a team of associates as a manager at Zara in downtown Chicago. “The other big thing was financial aid. They told me about the options available and how I could make getting a college degree more affordable.”
After starting his associate degree studies in business administration, a program designed to equip students with essential business knowledge and skills, preparing them for various roles in the business sector–in early 2024, he immediately got involved in campus life, taking positions on St. Augustine’s student council, school magazine, and writers club.
It’s no surprise that he sees starting a business in his future—one that combines his love of fashion and writing with all the knowledge he’s gaining through his studies at St. Augustine.
“During COVID, my brother and I started up a business idea but ended up putting it on hold,” he explains. “For now, I will continue to educate myself on learning how to scale it so I can make it a reality someday.”
He believes his degree from St. Augustine will make that possible.
“It will help me grow in all of my career aspects,” adds Mbabazi. “I’m the oldest of four. I need to do this for my siblings, for my parents, and also to help me grow. I feel like my dream is finally coming true.”
