Evans Oppong: How NSMQ Star Became Homeless During Summer Break In America

• Evans Oppong is said to have encountered some difficulties during his studies at Lehigh University in the US
• This happened during America's summer break when he failed in his quest to secure a job or an internship
• The situation plunged him into hardship and a fellow Ghanaian student, Ortiz Opoku, helped support him

Amid the news of four Ghanaian students in the US being arrested for alleged document forgery, new details may shed some light on the circumstances.

Former National Science and Mathematics Quiz (NSMQ) star Evans Oppong is said to have been struggling before his dismissal from Lehigh University this month.

A GoFundMe campaign set up by his friends has painted a picture of a brilliant mind who appeared set for success until cruel personal circumstances got in the way.

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A report sighted by YEN.com.gh on the GoFundMe set up by friends of the four Ghanaian students indicated the former Prempeh College student had completed his first year as a freshman at the Pennsylvania institution.

However, Evans Opong struggled in his attempts to find a job or an internship during the US summer break, which plunged him into some financial turmoil and led to him being supported by fellow Ghanaian student, Otis Opoku.

"Evans had just finished his freshman year at Lehigh in the College of Engineering. Unable to find an internship or summer job, he was homeless over the summer. Otis was covering the cost of his accommodation, and Evans spent many nights in a room with no electricity. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester and dedicates himself to his studies at the expense of his social life," the statement on the GoFundMe campaign read.

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Despite this challenge, the young man was said to have still excelled in academics.

"He has been on the Dean’s List every semester and dedicates himself to his studies at the expense of his social life."

Evans Oppong, alongside Opoku and two other students - Cyrilstan Nomobon Sowah-Nai and and Henry Dabuo - have been dismissed by Lehigh University for allegedly falsifying their transcripts.

The quartet are now facing charges including the theft of services, acquisition of service forgery, and uttering forged writing, with their first court appearance scheduled for later this month.

Peeps react to the dismissal of the four students

News of the four Ghanaian students being dismissed from Lehigh University for alleged forgery of transcripts has sparked discussion on social media.

@NPKAY24 commented:

"Problem is, most SHSs don't really keep proper transcript for students, since WASSCE results is the "ultimate" transcript. It is thus likely that a term-by-term transcript for admission oversees may be generated "in situ", more often embellished to improve chances."

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SHS student prays for his junior and gifts him school uniforms after taking his final WASSCE paper

@jacobdanso4 added:

"I'm just imagining if their families took loan or used their last funds to facilitate their traveling."

UG to sack students with low CGPA

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the University of Ghana will dismiss undergraduate students scoring below a prescribed CGPA of 1.00.

A statement from the Academic Affairs Directorate confirmed a grim fate for students who failed to meet the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh