With Mustafa Mubarak I went up Until the podium at the University of Kentucky commencement in May 2026, he was one of only four students personally selected by UK President Eli Capilouto to represent the entire Class of 2026, and the only one selected from the College of Engineering.
Mubarak, an international student from Alexandria, Egypt, was graduating with three degrees simultaneously. He earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science simultaneously.
Although he receipt In the United States when he was only 17 years old and had US$1,000 (52,900 Egyptian pounds) and a modest command of the English language, he still harbored an ambition that most people his age did not have. While most students are advised to take 19 credit hours each semester, Mubarak regularly took 22 credit hours, with special dispensation from his academic advisor.
“I came here. I didn’t know much English. Kentucky was the right choice out of thousands. I would do that a million times,” He said In his opening remarks.
He added: “By all reasonable standards, I could have allowed myself to be received as an outsider. Instead, I decided to embrace everything this place had to offer without apology.”
In zoom interview Mubarak said, in the “End of the Day” program broadcast on Wednesday evening on “An-Nahar” channel, that his main goal is to make his father proud: “My dream was to amaze my father. He had blind faith in me, and his words are what kept me going in the most difficult times.”
In four blessed years balanced Three demanding engineering majors while simultaneously building a presence as a campus leader and entrepreneur. He founded Jomo Figures, a startup that uses engineering and design to turn clients’ photos into custom figurines.
Him too Participated in its founding Middle Eastern and North African Students Association in the UK, giving Arab and Middle Eastern students an organized community and support network on campus.
“Pour a bowl of Kit Kats and trust that all the good things meant for you will come,” he advises students and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Mubarak currently intends to remain in the United States to obtain a work permit in order to formally build his career in entrepreneurship and software. He plans to develop technical systems that serve humanity and make daily life easier.