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KENNESAW, Ga. | Sep 2, 2025

The Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services are celebrating the creation of two new endowed scholarships that will support undergraduate international students and second-generation American students with financial need.  

Dr. Akanmu G. Adebayo, an Emeritus Professor of History at Kennesaw State University, and Dr. Omotola A. Adebayo, an alumna of Kennesaw State University鈥檚 nursing program, have created two $25,000 endowed scholarships which will alternate between Radow College and Wellstar College on a yearly basis. The Akanmu G. and Omotola A. Adebayo International Student Scholarship will provide financial support to international students. Additionally, the Akanmu G. and Omotola A. Adebayo Scholarship will support second-generation U.S. citizens who are children of immigrants. 

鈥淲e hope the scholarships will remove financial obstacles in the way of the students who receive them and allow the students to focus on their studies. We also hope the scholarships will be a source of inspiration for recipients to pay it forward. One doesn鈥檛 need to be a billionaire to make an impact. You make an impact where you are and how you are,鈥� the Adebayos said in a joint statement. 

Akanmu and Omotola Adebayo are immigrants themselves. They know firsthand the struggles, challenges, and needs experienced by international students, recent immigrants into the United States, and their children. Through these scholarships, the Adebayos seek to meet some of the financial needs of brilliant, gifted, but financially disadvantaged students. 鈥淪cholarships like these would have provided tremendous financial relief when we were in college,鈥� the Adebayos said. 鈥淓very little bit counts!鈥� 

Radow College Dean Catherine (Katie) Kaukinen thanked the family for their decades of service and impact on Radow College students. Kaukinen said, 鈥淚t takes special people to open their lives to students in the way that Drs. Akanmu and Omotola Adebayo have through the years,鈥� Kaukinen said. 鈥淲e are honored to be stewards of their gifts and look forward to seeing the impact of their legacy on our students for years to come.鈥� 

Wellstar College Interim Dean Laurie Tis looks forward to seeing how the Adebayo family鈥檚 gifts will impact international and second-generation American students in Wellstar College. Tis said, 鈥淲e are honored and deeply grateful to the Adebayo Family for their generous support of undergraduate students in both the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. Their commitment plays a vital role in empowering our students to succeed academically, graduate with confidence, and go on to make meaningful contributions to our communities.鈥� 

Akanmu Adebayo taught history and conflict management at Kennesaw State University for over three decades, while Omotola Adebayo was an alumna of the KSU nursing program. Akanmu Adebayo also directed KSU鈥檚 internationalization program and served as the director of KSU鈥檚 Center for Conflict Management. 

-Story and photos by Noelle Lashley