Great Grads 2025: Elton Mombeshora

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Elton Muchadeyi Mombeshora, an international student from West Africa, graduates as the 2025 Salutatorian of Johnson C. Smith University, standing out as a top scholar, student leader, and advocate for experiential learning and community engagement.

A computer engineering major, Mombeshora's academic success was matched by his commitment to service.

“I describe myself as an ambitious and goal-oriented student who makes the most of every opportunity,” he said.

That ambition was evident not only in the classroom but also through extra-academic and professional application. While still a student, Mombeshora developed websites for local entrepreneurs.

“My claim to fame is that I used my skills to uplift Black businesses,” he shared.

Bolstering others in the community as he climbs, Mombeshora has learned to strike a balance in life.

“Juggling academics and the job search was extremely challenging,” he admitted. 

Still, Mombeshora rose to the occasion—earning accolades in competitive arenas such as the 2025 HBCU Smart City Hackathon (3rd place) and the 2023 Black Enterprise SMART Hackathon, where he received honors for Best Conceptual Design.

On campus, Mombeshora served as President of the JCSU Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) for the 2023–2024 academic year. These leadership experiences, coupled with the rigor of academic pursuits, helped grant  Mombeshora critical life-lessons along the way. 

“I learned to say ‘no’ respectfully, and I also learned to prioritize what truly matters,” he said.

As he looks to the future, Mombeshora is guided by a powerful mission: “I aim to contribute to the unity and economic uplift of African people and people of African descent around the world.”

Mombeshora now begins the next chapter of his life as a full-time software engineer at Dell Technologies—continuing the work of transforming potential into impact.